"It lets the proud history of that club down" - Gary Neville hits out at Nottingham Forest following statement against VAR
Gary Neville has criticised Nottingham Forest for their statement about the refereeing in their clash against Everton on Sunday, April 21. He believes that the Premier League club hinting at cheating from the VAR officials is ridiculous.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville claimed that it was a horrendous statement as it let the club's 'proud history' down. He added that the point about the VAR official being a Luton Town fan was hinting at cheating, which was unacceptable. He said (via Daily Mail):
"I just want to comment on that Nottingham Forest statement. It is horrendous statement by that football club. It lets the proud history of that club down, and the inferred cheating, suggesting the official is a Luton Town fan, is absolutely ridiculous."
Nottingham Forest were furious with the officials on Sunday after the referees waved away three appeals for penalties during their 2-0 loss against Everton at Goodison Park. The club stated that they had asked for a change in VAR official as they believed that Stuart Attwell is a Luton Town fan and would rule against them in the relegation battle.
Jamie Carragher also took shots at Nottingham Forest
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was also not happy with the statement from Forest, despite admitting that the officiating in the encounter was awful. He believes that the referees deserved criticism, but the statement from the club reads like something a fan would say at a pub.
Carragher was also on Sky Sports, when he said (via The Independent):
"It tells you where we are in the Premier League now, with the clubs. Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor have had a horrific day today, awful, and they should be rightly criticised for that. That could have real implications for Nottingham Forest. I get the frustrations."
He added:
"But that, what I've just read there on social media, that's like a fan in a pub. That is embarrassing for Nottingham Forest. I get the frustrations, but that rubbish about the VAR is a Luton fan? You can't get involved in that. You've got to show a little bit of class if you are a football club. I get it, the frustration, the officials have had an awful day, terrible. But you can't get involved in that. It's nonsense!'"
The loss on Sunday left Forest just a point above Luton Town in the relegation battle. They are 17th in the table, while the Premier League newbies are a place below in 18th, the final relegation spot.