Mark Clattenburg has caused controversy among referees and the public. Nottingham Forest, instead of apologizing, has issued a third club statement. They are demanding clearer rules on allegiances surrounding referee and VAR appointments. The club has also requested the audio of all three of their penalty appeals.

They claim to have asked for a Luton fan, Attwell, to be removed from VAR duties. However, PGMOL insists no such request was made. Forest has faced criticism for questioning Attwell’s integrity. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has also criticized Clattenburg’s approach and comments about Attwell.

Meanwhile, Forest has requested the full audio between the referee, his fellow officials, and the VAR team from the penalty appeals in their game with Everton. The final decision on Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi has brought criticism for Attwell. Forest’s third statement questioned allegiances of referees and VARs, calling for a change in the rules to “boost confidence.”

The statement further elaborated that PGMOL must amend its rule on allegiances to account for contextual rivalries in the league table, not just local rivalries. They believe that reliance on match officials to recuse themselves if contextual rivalries exist invites conjecture.

The club stands by its request for greater transparency around PGMOL appointments to protect the game’s reputation. A suggestion has been made that any move which boosts confidence in the system should be properly considered. This comes in the wake of widespread and ongoing concerns over VAR decisions throughout the season.