- The Premier League has supported Stuart Attwell despite last week’s controversy
- Nottingham Forest claimed Attwell for bias while on VAR duty at Everton
- Questioning Stuart Attwell’s integrity is a disgrace for Nottingham Forest – listen to It’s All Kicking Off podcast
The Premier League has confirmed that Stuart Attwell will referee Saturday’s match between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage, despite Nottingham Forest angrily questioning his integrity while he was on VAR duty last weekend.
The City Ground club issued an explosive statement following their 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday, claiming PGMOL was warned that Attwell was “a Luton fan” and suggesting the official had acted favorably towards Everton in an effort for helping the team. The Hatters’ bid to survive in the Premier League.
Just a point separates Forest and Luton with four games remaining in the Premier League relegation battle, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side currently hold a slight advantage in 17th place.
Forest were outraged at not being awarded three penalties during the match, with Everton defender Ashley Young at the center of each claim.
The Midlands club have asked PGMOL to release the audio transcript of VAR discussions between Attwell and on-field referee Anthony Taylor after criticizing “three extremely poor decisions” in their explosive statement on Sunday.
The Premier League has confirmed that Stuart Attwell will referee as planned this weekend
Nottingham Forest have asked PGMOL to release the audio transcript of conversations between VAR Attwell and on-field referee Anthony Taylor (above) after their 2-0 defeat to Everton.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Tuesday that the referees’ governing body will comply with Forest’s demand and that PGMOL boss Howard Webb will discuss one of three issues on next week’s Match Officials show Mic’d Up.
But Attwell will keep his place on the Premier League fixture list as scheduled on Saturday, as the Premier League confirmed he will be the on-field referee for Fulham’s home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Attwell will be accompanied by assistant referees James Mainwaring and Marc Perry, with Michael Salisbury and Neil Davies taking on the roles of VAR and assistant VAR respectively.
The FA itself is prepared to launch an investigation into the questioning of Attwell’s integrity in Forest’s explosive statement on Sunday.
It is read in the club’s publication on X, formerly Twitter. : ‘Three terrible decisions – three unsanctioned penalties – that we simply cannot accept.
Forest were outraged that three penalties did not go as expected in the huge six points.
The Midlands club issued an incendiary statement after their controversial defeat
‘We advised the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the match but they did not change it. Our patience has been tested several times. The NFFC will now consider its options.’
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who plays an advisory role at Nottingham Forest, criticized the Howlers’ hat-trick in his exclusive column for Mail Sport on Sunday.
He said: “These situations were precisely the reason video technology was introduced in the Premier League and yet Attwell did not send Taylor to his monitor.” Not even once. It was a hat-trick from the howlers of the refereeing team and, sadly for Forest, the continuation of an unfair trend that has hampered their fight for survival.
“You will have seen the statement issued by the club – how the PGMOL was contacted to advise that it was inappropriate for a Luton fan like Attwell to play such a pivotal role in such an important match that would affect the relegation race.
“I certainly wouldn’t have risked this situation if I were chief referee and all of this could have been avoided if the PGMOL had simply made smarter appointments.
PGMOL boss Howard Webb (left) to discuss Mic’d Up match refereeing controversy
“Referees don’t deliberately make mistakes, but it was amazing to see. Why Attwell didn’t send Taylor to screen him, only he will know.”
Before the column was published in Mail Sport, Manchester United legend Gary Neville urged Clattenburg “must resign” to distance himself from the incendiary statement.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “Mark Clattenburg must resign tonight. If words come out questioning the integrity of a referee and claiming that someone is a cheat for supporting another club, then he is supporting what is being said.
‘I would lose all credibility with the referees in the game. He should resign tonight and distance himself from that statement.’