Mark Clattenburg resigns from Nottingham Forest role as it became ‘more hindrance than help’

Mark Clattenburg resigns from the role at Nottingham Forest as it became ‘more hindrance than help’, he explains in a statement.

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Clattenburg said in a statement on Friday (3rd May): ‘This is to announce that I will no longer be providing match analysis services to Nottingham Forest Football Club. Since February this year, I have been proud to have done so under a consultancy agreement between NFFC and Referee Consultant Ltd.

‘I performed my services under the consultancy agreement in good faith, to the best of my abilities and in the hope of using my extensive experience as a match official to help NFFC understand how decisions in relation to key match incidents are made amid the workings of VAR.

‘However, it is now clear that the existence and performance of these consultancy services has caused unintended friction between NFFC and other participants, to the extent that it has become more of a hindrance than help to NFFC.

‘It has also led to the unmerited targeting of me, personally, by certain participants and pundits. Such reactions and outcome was not expected and is regrettable, as it is my sincere belief that there is a place for and value in such a role in the modern game.

‘I am grateful to NFFC and wish them all the best during the remainder of the season and in the future. It’s been an honour.’

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis fumed, with a statement issued on Twitter following the game, which read: ‘Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.

‘We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.’

Mark Clattenburg fumes over Nottingham Forest VAR ‘joke’ after Gary Neville tells him to resign

Clattenburg didn’t have any part in the statement but it led to a fallout, with the Football Association and Premier League club formally requesting for Forest’s onservations, as was Clattenburg, who has been asked to explain his comments in a Daily Mail column in which he analysed the three decisions, as seen below). They have until next week to respond.

Clattenburg said last month that the referee’s hat-trick of howlers to deny Nottingham Forest penalties at Everton was ‘mind-boggling’… and that ‘all of this could have been avoided by refereeing chiefs’.

He said in a piece for the Daily Mail: “One of these errors would have been bad enough. Three was a joke, and that is why Nottingham Forest were left feeling victimised after another defeat in which zero big decisions went their way.

“In a season where they have had to endure some egregious refereeing, this trip to Everton was as grim a game as they have encountered since returning to the Premier League.

“First, Ashley Young kicked the back of the foot of Giovanni Reyna. We have seen others win penalties in similar situations — Anthony Gordon for Newcastle against West Ham, for example — but not this time. No visit to the monitor. No penalty awarded.

“Then, Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross was stopped by the outstretched arm of Young. Handballs for making your body unnaturally bigger have routinely resulted in spot-kicks — Michael Keane was penalised for Everton against Liverpool, for example — but again, not this time. No visit to the monitor. No penalty awarded.

“Finally, Hudson-Odoi was bursting into the box when Young challenged him from behind, completely wiping him out. Referee Anthony Taylor apparently told the players on the pitch that both Young and Hudson-Odoi touched the ball. The television replays told a very different story and VAR Stuart Attwell had to send Taylor for a second look to correct his call. He didn’t. No visit to the monitor. No penalty awarded.

“These situations were precisely why video technology was brought into the Premier League and yet, Attwell did not send Taylor to his monitor. Not once. It was a hat-trick of howlers from the refereeing team and, unfortunately for Forest, a continuation of an unjust trend that has hampered their survival fight.

“You will have seen the statement released by the club — how the PGMOL were contacted to warn that it was not appropriate for a Luton fan such as Attwell to play such a pivotal role in a massive match that would impact the relegation race.

“Certainly, I would not have risked this situation if I were the head of the referees and all of this could have been avoided had the PGMOL simply made smarter appointments.

“Referees do not make mistakes deliberately but this was mind-boggling to watch. Why Attwell did not send Taylor to his screen, only he will know.

“The PGMOL can acknowledge the errors if they want. The Key Match Incident panel can say Forest should have been awarded three penalties if they wish. Howard Webb can offer up an explanation on his Match Officials Mic’d Up television show with Michael Owen if he is so inclined.

“All of that is bound to happen, but none of it will help Nottingham Forest now.”

VAR audio of penalty appeals released from Nottingham Forest’s controversial defeat at Everton

This is what fans are saying as Mark Clattenburg resigns from his role at Nottingham Forest as it became ‘more hindrance than help’…

@FTM1042: No surprise to me. Mark Clattenburg has damaged his relationships with former referees and current referees in the industry in my opinion after the comments he come out and said after the 2-0 defeat at Everton a couple of weeks ago. Nottingham Forest were so angry at half time they wanted to release a statement at half time but club officials had to calm them down and prevent Forest from releasing that statement. Clattenburg was appointed as Nottingham Forest referee analyst back in February but the job he was set out to do he has failed massively. He was hired to improve understanding and relationships with match officials but instead has questioned the integrity of officiating and has jeopardized his relationship with match officials.

@LoganBr12851438: Pgmol admitting an agenda against us then? #NFFC

@AdrienPicard26: Waste of money. The kind of decision that makes me think that NFFC board is not mature sometimes.

@ConnorParker10: 🤣🤣🤣🤣 an embarrassment of a football club

@HenryisAce: Sort of suggests his role was a problem for the club from outside sources. So us not getting decisions really screams corruption now doesn’t it?

@PieAfterAMovie: Vindication for @GNev2 😂 got loads of abuse for being right.

@lewis_tinker: Pointless then… just a inside mole to screw the club other from the inside #NFFC

@jaacknffc: This has pissed me off because I know Gary Neville will be loving this somewhere the arrogant cunt

@NFFCRED: What was point in first place 🤔!

@TrickyTreesDave: Im surprised it’s taken this long. Everyone can see the rules are manipulated to control how the prem want the results to go.

@trillarmufc: Wow mark clattenburg what a farce all that was #NFFC #premeirleague

@JamesChester24: Well I hope to god we’re gonna get a replacement as soon as possible. The difference he’s made for us has been staggering, what a loss to the club. Said no one ever

@EmeraldHitman: The Clattenburg thing has been a failed experiment, time to move on. I’ll say this though, I can see a similar role being implemented as a ‘bigger’ club and not nearly as much media outrage happening. #NFFC

@paulmorley19: Been agnostic about the Clattenburg appointment from the off. Could see the potential merits, but wary of the extra noise it created. What I find troubling is the idea him being at the club potentially impacted how PGMOL (completely objective?) behaved towards us. Integrity? #NFFC

@psb_nffc: Couldn’t have predicted that one. Another masterstroke from the Forest hierarchy. Slow clap #NFFC

@samevansnffc: I’m fully of the opinion that decisions against us have got even worse as a direct result of the Clattenburg appointment. PGMOL have wanted to make an example of us to prevent others from following suit. This tells me that I can’t be far off. #NFFC