Nottingham Forest Fined £750,000 for VAR Official Criticism
Nottingham Forest has been penalized £750,000 and issued a caution for social media posts targeting VAR official Stuart Attwell in April. The club’s defense that their remarks did not damage the game’s reputation was rejected by an independent regulatory commission.
The controversy arose from a match against Everton, where Forest felt they were denied three penalties. Their official Twitter account released a statement expressing dissatisfaction with the decisions, specifically mentioning their previous concerns to the PGMOL about Attwell’s Luton fan status. The statement hinted at further action by the club.
Forest has not commented on the penalty. They had requested VAR audio from the match, which PGMOL provided. The club also suggested considering “contextual” rivalries when assigning referees and VAR officials, but this was not adopted in the season’s criteria.
On the same day as Forest’s charges, referee analyst Mark Clattenburg left the club after receiving a formal warning from the FA for his comments about Attwell. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo and defender Neco Williams also faced disciplinary action for their remarks on the refereeing. Nuno received a suspended one-match touchline ban, a £40,000 fine, and a conduct warning, while Williams was fined £24,000 and warned.
The incident highlights the ongoing debate about VAR and the role of social media in football. Forest’s actions have drawn criticism for potentially undermining the authority of match officials, while the club maintains that they were simply expressing their concerns. The FA’s decision to impose a significant fine and caution serves as a warning to other clubs about the consequences of inappropriate social media behavior.