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Nottingham Forest has failed in its appeal against a £750,000 fine imposed for a social media post that openly criticized Premier League official Stuart Attwell. The club’s attempt to overturn the sanction was dismissed by an independent appeal board, the Football Association (FA) confirmed on Monday.
The controversy stems from a post made by Forest in April 2024, following a 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park. The club expressed frustration over what it claimed were three clear penalty decisions that were not awarded in its favor. In its post, Forest alleged that Attwell, who served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match, was a known supporter of relegation rivals Luton Town. The club further claimed it had raised concerns with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) prior to the match but was ignored. The post concluded by stating, “Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
The FA viewed the statement as a direct attack on the integrity of match officials, branding it as an “unparalleled” criticism. The regulatory commission initially issued the hefty fine in October, with Forest immediately launching an appeal, arguing that the penalty was excessive. However, the appeal board upheld the original decision, emphasizing the severity of the offense and ordering the removal of the post.
“The commission was right to give considerable weight to the need for deterrence, especially given Nottingham Forest’s lack of mitigation,” the appeal board stated in its ruling. “The post was never taken down, and the club has never issued an apology or acknowledged wrongdoing.”
Forest had also called for PGMOL to consider club rivalries when assigning referees, but this suggestion was not implemented when the governing body released its criteria for match officials earlier this season.
The fallout from the Everton game did not stop with the club’s post. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo and defender Neco Williams both received sanctions for their comments about the officiating. Espírito Santo was handed a suspended one-match touchline ban and fined £40,000, while Williams was fined £24,000 and given a warning.
Additionally, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis faced disciplinary action earlier this season, serving a five-match stadium ban after being found guilty of spitting toward match officials following a separate incident against Fulham in September.
Despite the controversy, Nottingham Forest narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 17th in the Premier League, six points clear of Luton Town, which was relegated.
As the club moves forward, Forest is currently performing well this season, sitting third in the standings with ten matches remaining. The team will be looking to shift its focus back to football as it prepares for its upcoming fixture against Ipswich Town.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @officialnffc, Pixabay / Larry White
