Nottingham Forest Requests Release of Referee Audio Amid Officiating Controversy

Nottingham Forest has formally requested the release of audio recordings between match officials during their Premier League match against Everton on Sunday, amid growing controversy over the officiating decisions. The club initially asked for the audio to be made public, but has now accepted an offer from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to listen to the recordings privately.

The controversy centers around three key incidents in the match where Forest felt they were denied clear penalties by referee Anthony Taylor and VAR official Stuart Attwell. After the 2-0 defeat, the club issued an extraordinary statement claiming they had warned PGMOL before the match that Attwell was a fan of Luton Town, one of Forest's direct rivals in the relegation battle, but that PGMOL did not change his appointment.

The Premier League expressed disappointment over Forest's comments, stating that it is "never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials." The league is investigating the matter and could charge Forest in relation to rules requiring clubs and officials to act in good faith.

Forest's statement also called for the rules around referees' and VARs' allegiances to be updated to account for "contextual rivalries in the league table." The club believes the current regulations, which prohibit officials from matches involving teams they support, should be extended beyond just local derbies.

The Football Association has asked three members of the Forest staff, including manager Nuno Espirito Santo, for observations on their post-match comments criticizing the officiating. They could face misconduct charges.

Why this matters: The incident has reignited the debate over transparency and accountability in refereeing decisions, as well as the pressure match officials face. It also highlights the increasingly high stakes in the Premier League relegation battle, with clubs fighting for every point and decision.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb plans to hold talks with Nottingham Forest and play the VAR audio recordings to the club in an effort to resolve the matter amicably. While PGMOL will not release the audio publicly, one of the controversial incidents may be featured in their "Match Officials: Mic'd Up" program. The discussions indicate PGMOL's desire to provide clarity and move on from the officiating controversy that has overshadowed the match.

Key Takeaways

• Nottingham Forest requests release of VAR audio recordings from Everton match
• Forest claims VAR official Attwell is a fan of rival Luton Town
• Premier League investigating Forest's comments, could charge the club
• FA asks Forest staff for observations on post-match officiating criticism
• PGMOL chief Webb to meet Forest, play VAR audio in effort to resolve issue