The statement that Nottingham Forest published on X on Sunday has led to considerable criticism for the club. Analyst Jamie Carragher called the action of the Premier League club 'embarrassing'.
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Nottingham Forest's loss at Everton was further compounded when they took to social media to claim that the VAR official was biased, being a fan of their relegation rivals, Luton Town.
This controversial statement prompted Jamie Carragher to respond on Sky Sports, criticizing both referees Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor for their poor officiating and acknowledging the potential repercussions for Forest's claims. "It can really have consequences for Nottingham Forest, so I understand the frustration. But that, what I just read on social media, that's like a fan in a pub. That's embarrassing for Nottingham Forest. That nonsense, that the VAR is a Luton fan, they can't indulge in that. You have to show some class as a football club," Carragher said.
Gary Neville also joined in the criticism, highlighting the negative impact such statements could have on the club's storied reputation. "It's a dreadful statement. It lets down the fine history of the club. The supposed cheating because a Luton fan would have been the VAR is extraordinarily ridiculous," Neville remarked.
During the match, Forest felt they were unfairly denied three penalty claims, leading coach Nuno Espirito Santo to voice his frustration with the officiating directly after the game. "We don't want bad referees, we want good decisions. If we lose due to a bad match, we accept that, but it's disappointing because of the decisions. This is a general feeling among us, we try to ignore it, but so often bad decisions are repeated against us," he said.
The situation has attracted the attention of the English Football Association, which has announced an investigation into Nottingham Forest's social media post. This inquiry aims to determine whether the club's public questioning of the VAR's integrity could potentially damage the credibility of the game. Positioned seventeenth in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest's actions could have significant implications, both within the league and in the broader football community. This episode is a stark reminder of the tension between club interests and the governance of the sport.
