Gallagher: It’s wrong to question integrity of VAR official Attwell
FORMER Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has slammed Nottingham Forest and Mark Clattenburg for questioning the integrity of VAR official Stuart Attwell after the defeat to Everton.
Forest insisted after the full-time whistle that they had petitioned the PGMOL for Attwell to be removed from the game because he supported Luton Town. This request was denied and led to the Reds expressing their desire to ‘explore their options’ in regard to the incidents.
Discussing Forest and Clattenburg’s comments in the Daily Mail where he doubled down on the club’s approach, Gallagher told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch: “What I know is that Stuart Attwell is one of the VARS who is used week in week out in the Champions League so he must be regarded as an integral part of the system.
“He goes out regularly and does all kinds of matches for them. You don’t do that if you are not qualified, you don’t do that if you are not capable, you don’t do that if you are making mistakes regularly.
“With all that in mind, I would suggest that because he was sat there yesterday, people may question his decision but not his integrity.”
Forest were angered about missing out on what they believe to be three penalties against Everton.
Gallagher addressed each incident on the programme. Firstly, discussing Ashley Young’s challenge on Gio Reyna he said: “I don’t think so. I think the referee has got this one right.
“There is contact but as we say not all contact is a foul. There is minimal contact, the referee has got a good view.
“Once the referee has looked at it and said no, the VAR is never ever going to intervene.
“He makes contact with him but we have to be very careful that we don’t sanitise the game and every bit of physical contact becomes a foul.”
On the Young handball in the first half following a Callum Hudsonodoi cross, he added: “This is the most difficult call I think.
“Is his arm there because he is running? Is he too close? I would think he would be very harshly treated if a penalty was given for that.
“That said, we have seen in the SPL (Scottish Premier League) that be given.
“In the Premier League, the referee thinks no, thinks he is running, I think no but it could have gone either way.”
Finally, Gallagher did feel Forest should have received one penalty but did not think it was as outrageous as Forest felt it was. Discussing Young’s tackle on Hudson-odoi in the second half, he concluded: “I think this is a penalty and it is a penalty for a couple of reasons.
“Firstly, I think the defender has got the wrong side of the forward. Secondly, the referee signals the defender plays the ball. Well, he doesn’t play the ball that is a certainty so I wonder on that basis if VAR should say that he hasn’t played the ball and should have a look at this.
“If he goes to the screen, he could hold his ground and say there is not enough in it, I would get that and I think we would be happier about that (decision if so).”
Meanwhile, Former referee Jeff Winter told OLBG: “Perhaps there should have been more thought into the (Attwell) appointment, as there was in my day, but that being said you cannot have a club questioning the integrity of a match official.
“In my day, geographically, you were never appointed to officiate a team in your area or indeed a team you had any previous connection with.
“Fans will always have this but for a club to come out and question the integrity of a match official is taking it to a new level and the authorities have got to be seen taking action over this.
“Stuart Attwell has been put in a very awkward position here. It does put a weight on Attwell’s shoulders because, if indeed that is true, and it is yet to be proven, then is he ever going to referee Luton Town? Has he in the past? Is he going to be able to referee at Nottingham Forest again?
“If you have a situation where managers and clubs are criticising referees, there are going to be problems in the future because of handpicking referees.
“It’s a very unsavoury incident and I don’t think we have heard the last of it.”
Forest’s social media post has generated plenty of debate among fans and pundits. Winter believes the club should retract their statement.
“Having heard the accusations and feelings of Forest after the game, my initial reaction was one of shock,” he said.
“We are opening a real can of worms here, fans will always see things the way of their teams and conspiracy theories will always be out there.
“However, to doubt the integrity of match officials is just adding fuel to the flames and Nottingham Forest hopefully will print a retraction on this or otherwise face the consequences.
“We have always had situations where referees have been criticised but to say it’s been done because of their support of another club is taking it to a new level.”