'The VAR is a Luton fan' – Nottingham Forest SLAM refereeing decisions in Everton defeat

Nottingham Forest players look dejected during their defeat at Everton in April 2024.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Nottingham Forest have hit out at refereeing decisions in their 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday in an extraordinary statement on social media.

Everton won all three points at Goodison Park thanks to a goal in each half from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil, but Forest felt aggrieved as they believed some calls went against them in Liverpool.

The Reds saw several penalty appeals waved away by the officials and in a post on social media after the game, accused the video assistant referee of bias.

Nottingham Forest players in a huddle ahead of their Premier League game at Everton in April 2024.

Nottingham Forest players in a huddle ahead of their Premier League game at Everton in April 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept," Forest's official account wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the game.

"We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him."

And they added: "Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options."

Forest's defeat leaves Nuno Espirito Santo's side just a point above Luton – and the drop zone – in the Premier League in 17th place with four fixtures remaining.

Everton, meanwhile, are now four points clear of Forest in 16th place, with a game in hand over the Nottingham outfit.

And Nuno's side could soon find themselves in the bottom three as they host champions Manchester City at the City Ground next Sunday, with Luton in action away to Wolves on Saturday.

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Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.