Nottingham Forest: Club to 'consider options' over 'extremely poor' refeering decisions in Everton defeat

Nottingham Forest released a fiery statement moments after losing to Everton on Sunday, claiming they are considering their options over "extremely poor" refereeing decisions.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side lost 2-0 at Goodison Park, after goals by Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil, leaving the club 17th in the Premier League table.

Forest accused Stuart Attwell, the VAR, of being a Luton fan in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and suggested they were denied three penalties.

Forest are in the midst of a relegation battle and were furious after being denied three penalties at Goodison Park by match referee Anthony Taylor.

"Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept," the statement read.

"We warned the PGMOL 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."

Forest head coach Espirito Santo agreed with the club’s stance on the penalty decisions.

When asked about the club's statement, he said: “Yes I share (the view) because I saw the images. You see it so clearly, you don’t understand why the decision was against us.

“I honestly think the situation with Gio Reyna in the first half was a clear one and the handball, we can ask because if not, the ball goes to (Chris) Wood and there is an incident with Callum and Ashley Young.

“I share the feeling of the club because it is not only this game, it has been a while for poor decisions against us. It is not an excuse but we are not comfortable with the referees.”

The Forest manager was careful not to repeat the club's allegations that Attwell wasn't impartial, instead focusing on the referee's decision not to award any spot kicks to his side.

“It is not important if he is a fan of another club or not. The VAR is sitting down in a chair, they have time to assess the images.

“I would just like to understand the why – why we have always been on the end of bad decisions.

“It is a feeling of disappointment that we are always being punished and it is difficult to control the players with this feeling because they felt they worked hard and not got what they deserved.”

According to PA, the Football Association is aware of the post and is currently investigating it.

The game was vital for both sides' chances of Premier League survival, but it was Everton who emerged with the three points thanks to long-range efforts from Gueye and McNeil.

Forest felt they had three cases for a penalty, with all potential offences involving Everton defender Ashley Young.

In the first, Forest felt Young made contact with Giovanni Reyna's foot in the box, and the second was when a cross hit Young's outstretched arm in the area.

Then Young pressured Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was felled in the box by the defender.

The result means Forest hover just a single point above the drop zone, having been unable to capitalise on Luton's 5-1 loss to Brentford on Saturday.

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