Anthony Taylor has been appointed as the referee for Nottingham Forest’s decisive match against Chelsea this weekend. The fixture, set to take place at the City Ground on Sunday with a 4pm kick-off, holds significant importance as Champions League qualification is at stake. The Premier League has confirmed the officials for this high-stakes encounter, with Taylor at the helm, assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. Jarred Gillett will serve as the fourth official, while Peter Bankes and Constantine Hatzidakis will oversee VAR duties.
The club’s tweet said: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept. 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.”
Taylor stated: “In reaction to the behaviour of the Brighton technical area and the referee’s decision to dismiss Nottingham Forest player, Mr Gibbs-White for a second caution, Mr Espirito Santo, became very animated and aggressive. He left his technical area to show clear dissent in reaction to the decision and was heard saying to Mr Jones, ‘You’re ******* us again’. I then informed Mr Jones that Mr Espirito Santo should be dismissed.”
The selection of Anthony Taylor as the referee has sparked discontent among Nottingham Forest supporters. Their frustration stems from a previous encounter last season when Taylor officiated a controversial 2-0 defeat at Everton. During that match, Taylor dismissed three penalty appeals from Forest, leaving the club in a precarious relegation battle. The incident prompted Forest to express their dissatisfaction on social media, accusing VAR official Stuart Attwell of bias due to his alleged support for relegation rivals Luton Town.
Taylor’s involvement in Forest’s matches has been contentious, notably during a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion last September. On that occasion, Taylor, serving as the fourth official, recommended the dismissal of Forest’s head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, for improper conduct. This decision led to a three-match touchline ban for the Portuguese manager, following his reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White’s red card.
Fans have voiced their concerns on social media regarding Taylor’s appointment for Sunday’s crucial fixture. Some supporters fear biased officiating, referencing past incidents as evidence of Taylor’s unfavorable decisions against their team.
As Nottingham Forest prepares for this pivotal match, the spotlight will be on Anthony Taylor’s performance, with fans hoping for a fair and impartial officiating display.
