Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticizes VAR and referees for decisions

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has sparked controversy by calling out referees and the VAR system after his team’s 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday. Forest, who are currently one point above the Premier League relegation zone, felt aggrieved by three penalty decisions that were rejected during the match.

Nuno labeled the VAR system as “a mess” and criticized referees for not taking responsibility for making decisions on the pitch. Despite their frustrations, Forest did not request for VAR official Stuart Attwell to be removed from duties for the Everton game.

The club’s referee analyst, Mark Clattenburg, described the decisions as “a joke” and accused the officials of victimizing Forest. In response, Forest demanded the public release of the officials’ audio from the match.

The Football Association has asked for observations from Forest, Nuno, defender Neco Williams, and Clattenburg following their comments. The Premier League also released a statement condemning any improper questioning of match officials and announced they will launch their own investigation.

Despite the controversy, Attwell has been selected as one of the VAR officials for Euro 2024 in Germany this summer. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean defended Attwell, calling him one of the most honest referees in the country.

The situation has sparked a debate about the role of VAR in football and the need for referees to take more responsibility for on-field decisions. As Forest continue their battle against relegation, the fallout from the Everton match looks set to continue.