Nottingham Forest handed unprecedented FA punishment after furious referee statement

The Football Association fined Nottingham Forest £750,000 for bringing the game into disgrace by protesting about refereeing decisions against Everton in April.

The Football Association has imposed a significant financial penalty on Nottingham Forest following an examination into their contentious club statement from April.

Forest were unhappy with the rulings in a vital encounter against Everton, feeling they had been denied three penalties. Everton triumphed 2-0 at Goodison Park on April 21 in a match officiated by VAR Stuart Attwell, who supports relegation rivals Luton Town.

Forest stated in a statement that quickly went viral: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.” We informed the PGMOL before the game that the VAR is a Luton fan, but they did not alter him. Our patience has been challenged several times. “NFFC will now consider its options.”

The FA issued a statement on Friday stating that Nottingham Forest have been fined £750,000 and cautioned for misconduct in respect to remarks made on social media during their Premier League game against Everton on Sunday, April 21.

“The club denied that the social media remarks implied prejudice, called into doubt the integrity of the match officials and/or the video assistant referee, and/or brought the game into disgrace.

“After a hearing, an independent Regulatory Commission determined that the claim was proved and levied fines against the club. The detailed reasoning for these rulings are available in full below.”

Ashley Young, Everton’s defender, avoided giving up a penalty three times throughout the encounter. He apprehended Forest attacker Gio Reyna, tackled him in the area, and then confronted Callum Hudson-Odoi without getting reprimanded.

James Tarkowski also avoided a potential penalty for a handball when referee Anthony Taylor waved away Forest’s protests. Everton’s win, courtesy of goals from Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil, saw Sean Dyche’s side pull four points clear of Forest and Luton.

It was later revealed that Forest had contacted PGMOL chief Howard Webb via ex-referee analyst Mark Clattenburg before to the game, but had not requested Attwell’s replacement. Clattenburg eventually departed Forest, claiming that he had become a distraction from his assigned tasks.

Despite the outcry, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis eventually defended the club’s position. “The truth is this specific referee is well known to be a Luton fan – and no doubt declared his interest to PGMOL, as all of them have to,” the Daily Mail said at the time. “In my opinion, the PGMOL should not have chosen him for this match.” Luton was immediately below Forest at the time. In the final relegation spot, 18th place.

“The encounter versus Everton was crucial to the club’s survival in the Premier League. The PGMOL should not have risked the suspicion or perception of any prejudice, even unconscious bias. To be clear, we do not intend to dictate or impose changes on the PGMOL or the Premier League, but it is our responsibility to warn of a crisis and be proactive.”