Stuart Attwell, the referee who Nottingham Forest criticized after their loss to Everton, has been chosen as one of England’s two VARs for the upcoming European Championship.
“UEFA Euro 2024 is the pinnacle of European national team football, with the best teams competing and that’s why we have selected the best referees to officiate these matches,” the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
“All chosen referees have performed consistently to the highest standards in UEFA’s top competitions, and also in their domestic competitions. They have prepared exceptionally well to be in this position and we have full confidence in them to show their quality at the final tournament.”
Nottingham Forest has formally requested the release of the VAR audio from their recent Premier League match against Everton. They expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing body PGMOL after having three penalty appeals denied during the game.
Forest criticized the PGMOL for appointing Stuart Attwell as the VAR for the match, alleging that his support for Luton Town, a fellow relegation contender, influenced his decisions.
Referee Anthony Taylor, who is also set to officiate at the Euros in Germany, notably declined to award penalties on three occasions, including a potential foul on Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi by Everton defender Ashley Young.
“Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park,” Forest said in a statement on Monday.
“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents — Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).
“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
The Premier League has released a statement expressing “extreme disappointment” at Nottingham Forest’s complaints following their recent match.
They have confirmed plans to investigate the matter in accordance with the league’s rules.
Additionally, the Football Association announced on Monday that they would investigate Nottingham Forest‘s initial tweet, along with comments made by manager Nuno Espirito Santo and defender Neco Williams.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, now employed by Forest as a consultant, has also been called upon to clarify the contents of a newspaper article he authored regarding the officiating.
Meanwhile, the referees, referee assistant teams, VARs, and support match officials selected for Euro 2024 will oversee the 51 matches of the tournament.