Nottingham Forest has accused a Premier League refereeing official of being a fan of relegation rival Luton Town in an extraordinary social media post following the team’s 2-0 defeat by Everton on Sunday.
Forest felt as though it should have been awarded penalties in three instances during the match: one for handball and one each for fouls on Forest players Giovanni Reyna and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
No penalties for the three incidents were given by referee Anthony Taylor, whose decisions were backed up by video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell, the official Forest accused of supporting Luton.
The defeat leaves Forest just one point above Luton, who are in 18th and the final relegation place with four matches of the season remaining.
“Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept,” the club wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We warned the PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials Limited] 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.”
CNN has learned that the English Football Association is investigating the post.
“The Premier League was extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media yesterday, following its match against Everton,” the league said in a statement on Monday.
“We note The FA has confirmed it will be investigating the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s Rules.”
CNN has reached out to the PGMOL and Forest offering the opportunity for comment.
Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher agreed that the officials had got the decisions wrong but called Forest’s statement “embarrassing.
“It tells you where we are with the Premier League and the clubs now,” he said during post-match coverage Sunday. “Attwell and Taylor have had an awful day today, and they should be criticised, but what I’ve just read there is like a fan in a pub. That is embarrassing from Nottingham Forest.”
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, a former Manchester United defender, called it “a horrendous statement.”
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