Fuming Forest question VAR integrity as three penalties not given

Nottingham Forest have appeared to question the integrity of a match official in a social media post soon after a 2-0 loss at relegation rivals Everton in the Premier League.

Precise shots from outside the penalty area that flew in off the post by Idrissa Gana Gueye in the 29th minute and Dwight McNeil in the 76th clinched a crucial victory at Goodison Park for Everton, which boosted their survival hopes.

All White Chris Wood had Forest’s best chance to score late in the first half when the ball fell to him a couple of metres from goal but Everton keeper Jordan Pickford saved from point blank range.

Soon after the match, a post from Forest’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, criticised the failure to award the visitors a penalty.

“Three extremely poor decisions — three penalties not given — which we simply cannot accept,” the post said.

Forest said they had warned the referees’ body ahead of the game that the person overseeing the video review for the match “is a Luton fan”. Luton are third-to-last, one place and point below Forest.

“Our patience has been tested multiple times,” the post continued. “[Nottingham Forest] will now consider its options.”

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is working as a consultant for Forest this season and was at Goodison Park for the match.

Everton are fifth-to-last and moved five points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining. Forest are a place lower — though all this could change. Both teams have lodged appeals after being docked points in recent weeks for breaching the league’s financial rules. Everton, who had already been hit with a six-point deduction, are appealing against being handed a further two-point hit, while Forest have appealed against their four-point deduction.

Forest appeared most aggrieved after an incident in the 44th minute when Everton fullback Ashley Young’s right arm blocked a header back into the six-yard box.

Players on the field and backroom staff appealed furiously but the VAR did not award a penalty.