PGMOL appoints referee supporting rivals of Nottingham Forest for Luton match
Luton’s relegation rivals Nottingham Forest were left furious at the weekend and complained about the appointment of Luton-supporting Stuart Attwell as the video assistant referee (VAR) for their defeat against Everton. Forest alleged that they should have been awarded three penalties during their 1-0 loss at Everton and released a statement expressing their displeasure after the match. One incident that particularly irked Forest was when Callum Hudson-Odoi went down under a challenge by Everton’s Ashley Young. Despite the on-field referee Anthony Taylor gesturing that both players had touched the ball and that Young’s tackle was fair, television replays showed otherwise.
However, VAR Attwell did not prompt Taylor to review the challenge on the pitch-side monitor. Forest criticized the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for appointing Attwell and for what they believed were three incorrect decisions in the game. The PGMOL later confirmed that Coote, a Nottingham native and former Notts County fan, would be the referee for the upcoming game between Wolves and Luton. Forest, who have been deducted four points for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations, are currently facing a relegation battle with Luton.
Despite Everton’s victory over Forest, Luton still occupy the final relegation spot with four matches remaining. The fight for survival in the league appears to be heading towards a climactic end, with Luton and Forest separated by just one point as they strive to avoid relegation.
