Nottingham Forest release ’embarrassing’ statement about VAR being a ‘Luton fan’ & say club will ‘consider its options’
JAMIE Carragher and Gary Neville both blasted Nottinham Forest’s bizarre statement on social media after their Premier League loss to Everto.
Forest lost 2-0 to the Toffees at the City Ground with goals by Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil bringing Nuno Espirito Santo’s men just a point a way from the relegation zone.
However, Nottingham were furious with the refereeing and VAR following some controversial calls that left the hosts protesting for three penalties.
Everton ace Ashley Young was involved in every instance as he first appeared to foul Giovanni Reyna inside the area.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross was then met by Young’s hand before the ex-Manchester United ace appeared to foul the Chelsea academy graduate in the second half.
Forest then took to social media where they claimed the VAR official is a Luton fan before revealing they would consider their next move.
The club tweeted from their official account: “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.”
They statement was met with a furious reaction by Sky Sports pundit Carragher.
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The Liverpool legend conceded that the referees had a “horrific day” and understands the frustration but believes that tweet was “embarrassing”.
Carragher said: “It tells you where we are in the Premier League when clubs are doing that.
“Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor have had a horrific day and they should be criticised as it could have real implications.
“But that, what I’ve just read there on social media. That’s like a fan in a pub. That is embarrassing.
“I get the frustration. That rubbish about the VAR being a Luton fan – they can’t get involved in that. You’ve got to show a little bit of class as a football club.”
Neville doubled down by describing Forest’s statement as “horrendous”.
The United legend said on Sky Sports: “It”s a horrendous statement by that football club.
“It lets the proud history of them down. The inferred cheating, as suggested by a Luton fan being a VAR official absolutely ridiculous.”
Neville also criticised Forest’s signing of former referee Mark Clattenburg to advise them on refereeing decisions.
He said: “What is Mark Clattenburg doing? I have worked with Mark
“What are you doing? You’ve been employed to go and tell a football club how referees are making mistakes, or what mistakes they are making.
“It’s plainly obvious. A fan in the crowd could tell you what a referee’s thinking.
“Teams often feel they have had bad decisions against them. That happens sometimes. I would have hated it.
“But to employ an ex-referee to tell you why you are having decisions against you, for me, that’s a step too far.”