Nottingham Forest Slapped with £750k Fine Over VAR Controversy | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Fined £750,000 Over Controversial VAR Comments

Forest Faces FA Fine for Criticism of VAR Decisions

Nottingham Forest have been handed a £750,000 fine by the Football Association following what was described as an “attack on the integrity of a match official on an unparalleled scale.” The sanction came in response to the club’s social media post criticising VAR decisions during a 2-0 defeat to Everton on 21 April, which left the team embroiled in a relegation battle.

The post, shared on social media platform X shortly after full-time, suggested that video assistant referee Stuart Attwell, who officiated the game, was biased due to being a Luton Town supporter. Forest claimed that three penalty appeals were unjustly denied during the match, exacerbating their precarious position just one point above the relegation zone at the time.

Photo: IMAGO

The FA’s independent commission found the club’s comments to be irresponsible and noted a lack of remorse from Forest, who plan to appeal the decision. The ruling also included a stern warning to the club regarding its future conduct.

Controversy at Goodison Park

The match at Goodison Park was rife with contention, with Nottingham Forest growing increasingly frustrated as three penalty shouts were ignored. Notably, Everton’s Ashley Young was involved in two key incidents: a potential handball just before half-time and a challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 55th minute. The latter was later deemed by the Key Match Incident Panel to have warranted a penalty, a decision that fuelled Forest’s grievances.

The club’s post on X reflected its frustrations, stating: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.” The club’s patience with the officiating had apparently worn thin, having previously raised concerns with the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) about Attwell’s alleged allegiance to Luton. Despite this, no request to change the VAR official had been made.

Attwell, who provided a statement to the panel, described experiencing “stress, distress, fear, and embarrassment” as a result of the criticism. The commission found that the impact on him was “plainly very significant,” with the ramifications extending well beyond the incident itself.

FA’s Stance and Reaction from Forest

The FA was unequivocal in its response, labelling the club’s conduct as unprecedented for a professional team. The regulatory body sought an even larger penalty, originally proposing a fine exceeding £1 million, though this was ultimately reduced. Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, expressed concern that the post set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging others to question referees’ integrity.

In their appeal statement, Forest expressed strong disappointment with the verdict. “Nottingham Forest Football Club is extremely disappointed with the decision to impose a £750,000 fine,” read the statement. “We are particularly concerned that the FA sought a sanction ‘in excess of £1m,’ which we believe is wholly disproportionate.”

Consequences and Next Steps for Forest

The aftermath of the Everton clash did not end with the fine. Comments made by manager Nuno Espirito Santo and defender Neco Williams regarding the officiating led to additional penalties, including a suspended touchline ban for Nuno and fines for both men. More recently, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis faced charges over an incident at the City Ground following a loss to Fulham.

As the club prepares to host Crystal Palace on 21 October, currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, there remains a sense of unease. Forest’s ongoing challenges with the FA suggest that disciplinary issues may persist if tensions between club officials and referees continue to simmer.