Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s ongoing contention with referee Stuart Attwell has kept him away from officiating their matches since April 2024. The dispute arose following Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, where the club publicly criticized Attwell’s performance as the video assistant referee (VAR). Forest’s grievances centered on what they perceived as three crucial penalty decisions that were not awarded in their favor. The club’s social media post highlighted concerns about Attwell’s impartiality, citing his support for Luton Town, a direct relegation rival at the time.
Forest 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.”
The aftermath of the match saw Forest facing sanctions from the Football Association (FA) for what was described as an “attack on the integrity of a match official on an unparalleled scale.” Since then, Attwell has not been assigned to any Forest fixtures, whether as a referee, VAR, or fourth official. According to reports from The Athletic, this exclusion is intentional, with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) ensuring no conflicts of interest arise in referee allocations.
The contentious decision during the Everton match left Forest just one point clear of the relegation zone, intensifying their dissatisfaction. Attwell’s absence from Forest games has persisted for two years, with no indication of when he might return to officiate their matches. Notably, he was initially slated to serve as the fourth official for Forest’s FA Cup third-round tie at Wrexham in January, but Darren England ultimately took on the role.
Attwell’s recent involvement in the Premier League was as the referee for the 2-2 draw between Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur. He is scheduled to officiate West Ham’s upcoming match against Everton. Meanwhile, the PGMO continues to adhere to protocols established in August 2024 to prevent potential conflicts of interest in referee assignments.
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