One of these mistakes would have been bad enough. Three was a joke, which is why Nottingham Forest felt like victims after another defeat in which zero big decisions went their way.
In a season where they have had to endure some egregious refereeing, this trip to Everton was as grim a match as they have faced since returning to the Premier League.
First, Ashley Young kicked the back of Giovanni Reyna’s foot. We’ve seen others win penalties in similar situations – Anthony Gordon for Newcastle against West Ham, for example – but not this time. No visits to the monitor. No penalty awarded.
Then Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross was stopped by Young’s outstretched arm. Handballs because they make your body unnaturally bigger have routinely resulted in penalties – Michael Keane was penalized for Everton against Liverpool, for example – but again, not this time. No visits to the monitor. No penalty awarded.
Finally, Hudson-Odoi burst into the box when Young challenged him from behind and completely wiped him out. Referee Anthony Taylor apparently told the players on the field that both Young and Hudson-Odoi had touched the ball. The television replays told a very different story and VAR Stuart Attwell had to make Taylor watch again to correct his decision. He didn’t. No visits to the monitor. No penalty awarded.
Referee Anthony Taylor was in charge after three blunders in the defeat to Nottingham Forest
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross was stopped by the outstretched arm of Ashley Young
Hudson-Odoi burst into the box but Young cleared him with a challenge from behind
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These situations were exactly why video technology was introduced to the Premier League and yet Attwell did not send Taylor to his monitor. Not once. It was a hat-trick from the shouters of the refereeing team and, unfortunately for Forest, a continuation of an unfair trend that has hampered their fight for survival.
You will have seen the club’s statement – how the PGMOL was contacted to warn that it was not appropriate for a Luton fan like Attwell to play such a crucial role in a huge game that would have an impact on the relegation race.
Certainly, I would not have risked this situation if I was head of referees and all this could have been avoided if the PGMOL had simply made smarter arrangements.
Referees don’t make mistakes on purpose, but this was baffling to see. Why Attwell didn’t send Taylor to his screen, only he will know.
Nottingham Forest stated that they have warned PGMOL not to have Stuart Attwell as VAR
The PGMOL should have been smarter and removed Stuart Attwell as VAR for the game
The referee organization can acknowledge the mistakes afterwards, but that does not help Forest
The PGMOL can confirm the errors if they wish. The Key Match Incident panel can say Forest should have had three penalties if they wanted to. Howard Webb can explain his Match Officials Mic’d Up television show with Michael Owen if he’s so inclined.
All that will happen, but none of it will help Nottingham Forest now.