Nottingham Forest suffered a potentially significant defeat in the Premier League relegation scrap this afternoon, although it is the club's conduct on social media that has set tongues wagging in the aftermath of their loss to Everton.
Everton would run out as 2-0 winners at Goodison Park, with goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil enough to earn them a vital victory.
Nottingham Forest were unhappy with the officiating during the game, feeling that they had a number of blatant penalties waved away. The first came via a potential handball from Ashley Young in the box just before halftime.
Should Nottingham Forest have had a penalty for this? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/U13SmkNgHf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2024
You could certainly see why they felt aggrieved.
Young would go on to haul Callum Hudson-Odoi down in the box in the second half, with the penalty appeals once again waved away by the referee, before his decision was confirmed by the VAR. On a third occasion, his kick on Geo Reyna in the box went unpunished.
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Jamie Carragher hammers Nottingham Forest over 'embarrassing' tweet
While Nottingham Forest have a right to feel aggrieved over these decisions, they would take an extraordinary step in the aftermath of the game.
They would share a statement on their Twitter account, going on to suggest that VAR Stuart Attwell was biased in his decision making due to the fact that he is a Luton Town fan. Of course, Luton are one of the clubs chasing Forest in the relegation scrap.
Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.
We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
NFFC will now consider its options.— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 21, 2024
Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.
We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
NFFC will now consider its options.
This is not the first time Nottingham Forest have publicly questioned refereeing decisions given against them, also doing so in the aftermath of their loss to Liverpool earlier this season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher would label the club's conduct on this occasion as 'embarrassing'.
"That's like a fan in a pub" 😮@carra23 says Nottingham Forest's response is an embarrassment 😳 pic.twitter.com/PeTiYNvzVW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2024
It tells you were we are with the Premier League now and the clubs.
Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor have had a horrific day today, awful, and they should be rightly criticised for that. That could have real implications for Nottingham Forest, I get the frustration.
But that, what I've just read on social media, that's like a fan in the pub. That's embarrassing from Nottingham Forest.
I get the frustration, but that rubbish that the VAR is a Luton fan, you can't get involved in that. You've got to show a little bit of class if you're a football club.
I get the frustration, the officials have had an awful day, but you can't get involved in that. That's nonsense.
Carragher certainly has a point here.
Nottingham Forest may have a right to be angry over these decisions, but their conduct after the game was unacceptable.
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