Journalist Ben Jacobs has now shared what he’s been told happened between Mark Clattenburg and Howard Webb hours before Nottingham Forest played Everton.
It never rains it pours at theCity Ground. After a battling 2-2 draw with Wolves last weekend, Forest went into the game against Everton in confident spirits.
However, as bad as Forest were against the Toffees, this game was ultimately decided by some truly woeful officiating from Anthony Taylor and Stuart Attwell.
Forest simply have to start getting things right on the pitch themselves – but the standard of officiating is certainly not helping.
Forest issued a statement after the game that drew criticism from Alan Shearer and Micah Richards given how strong the wording was on the official post.
Now, Jacobs has shared what he’s heard happened between Clattenburg, the referee analyst at Forest, and Howard Webb just hours before Forest took on Everton.
Ben Jacobs shares what he’s been told Mark Clattenburg did before Forest game
The former Premier League referee has taken on the role of referee analyst and that appears to have rubbed some pundits up the wrong way.
Gary Neville has been very critical of the appointment and clearly, he was never a big fan of Clattenburg when he was a player.
Now, Jacobs has taken to X to explain what he’s actually hard about the conversation between Forest analyst Clattenburg and the PGMOL.
He posted: “Although PGMOL sources insist Nottingham Forest did not ask for VAR Stuart Attwell to be removed ahead of their game against Everton due to him being ‘a Luton fan’, I understand Mark Clattenburg spoke to Howard Webb on Friday morning around 10:30am.
“Clattenburg made it clear that Nottingham Forest requested the removal of Attwell from VAR.
“Webb responded that he was not aware Attwell was a Luton fan and refused to change the appointment.”
Forest status as Premier League club now uncertain
In fairness, Forest don’t have the best fixtures left to play. Manchester City at home looks a write-off and their other game at home is against a Chelsea team in form.
Away they have to go to Sheffield United and Burnley. The Blades will likely be down by the time they play Forest, whilst the Clarets are in there fighting – for now.
The gap between Forest and Luton is just a single point and ultimately there is a lot left to play for between the two relegation-threatened teams.
Forest have to get their own house in order on the pitch. There is enough quality in the dressing room to get enough wins and now it’s the time for everyone to be united.
Clearly, with this whole Clattenburg debacle, someone isn’t telling the truth. Jacobs is a journalist with a solid reputation and it seems completely justified to believe what he says.
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