Nottingham Forest, manager Nuno Espirito Santo, and defender Neco Williams find themselves embroiled in misconduct charges brought forth by the Football Association (FA). This development coincides with the departure of former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg from his position with the club.
The FA’s actions stem from remarks made by Nuno and Williams following Forest’s 2-0 defeat against Everton last month. Allegations suggest their comments implied bias, questioned the integrity of match officials, and brought the game into disrepute.
In response to the charges, the accused parties have until Thursday to provide their responses.
Forest’s frustration mounted after experiencing three disputed penalty decisions during the match. The club released a strongly-worded statement on social media, attracting widespread attention. However, despite their grievances, Forest did not request a replacement for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell ahead of the match.
Williams expressed exasperation in a post-match interview, citing recurrent unfavorable decisions against his team. Nuno echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the officials’ performance. Clattenburg, in a subsequent interview, labeled the decisions as a “joke” and insinuated Forest’s sense of victimization.
The trio has submitted their observations to the FA, with Nuno confirming his response on Thursday. Furthermore, the Premier League has announced its intent to investigate the comments made.
Meanwhile, Clattenburg announced his resignation from the club, citing his role as more of a hindrance than assistance. His departure follows a series of incidents, including public criticism of a referee and disputes over match incidents involving VAR.
In his statement, Clattenburg expressed regret over the unintended friction caused and emphasized his commitment to assisting Forest with his refereeing expertise.