Sky Sports issue an apology to Nottingham Forest over remarks by pundit Gary Neville after the club’s 2-0 defeat to Everton last season.
Cast your mind back to April 2024 when Forest made headlines across the world with a strongly-worded statement, furious with referee Anthony Taylor and VAR following three decisions that went against them.
They said the decision not to award three penalties was ‘extremely poor’ and said it would ‘consider its options’ and went further, suggesting that VAR Stuart Attwell was a Luton Town fan with the Hatters also in a relegation battle.
A surprised Gary Neville reacted: “It’s like a mafia gang statement, honestly… what the hell are they playing at?”
Forest launched legal action against Sky Sports after the broadcaster’s coverage of a social media post which questioned a match official’s appointment.
You can see more of what he said, in full, further down in this article.
A tweet and YouTube video of him giving his thoughts on it have since been taken down by Sky Sports, who have now released a statement regarding what Gary said on the 21st of April.
The Daily Mail reported that Sky Sports also “took the decision to remove an article from their website on Friday night in which Neville appeared to backtrack on comments calling for former referee Mark Clattenburg to resign from his role at the City Ground following the controversial statement”.
The Mail adds that “Sky Sports insist the decision to withdraw the piece was purely an editorial decision and not related to any ongoing legal matter”.
The statement said: “In response to a Nottingham Forest statement outlining their grievances with PGMOL following their match with Everton on 21 April Gary Neville, commenting on Super Sunday, strongly criticised Nottingham Forest’s approach. Sky Sports have discussed with Gary the language used and its potential to cause offence.
“Gary has agreed not to use the same or similar terms in future coverage. “Sky Sports apologises to Nottingham Forest for any offence caused by this language.”
The full initial statement from Nottingham Forest 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.”
“What are you doing?!” 🤨
Gary Neville isn’t impressed by Nottingham Forest’s signing of former PL referee Mark Clattenburg in their hopes of clarifying VAR decisions… 👀 pic.twitter.com/xQCe7eSXAQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 19, 2024
Nottingham Forest refereeing analyst Mark Clattenburg hit out over the ‘joke’ that is VAR, after Gary Neville told him to resign from the role, which Clattenburg eventually went on to do.
Mark Clattenburg hit out at the three refereeing decisions which went against Nottingham Forest in the game against Everton, calling it “unacceptable,” with PGMOL having the ability to prevent such occurrences.
The 2-0 defeat left Forest a one point above the drop zone with the club expressing their frustration as three penalty appeals were dismissed by the match officials, with some of these incidents appeared to be clear penalties, such as a handball by Ashley Young that went unnoticed.
Nottingham Forest finished the 2023/24 season avoiding relegation from the Premier League, positioning 17th in the table with 32 points, and six ahead of Luton.
Forest sacked manager Steve Cooper in December after a run of five defeats in six games, with ex-Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo his replacement.
Clattenburg, who works for Forest as a refereeing consultant, emphasised the failure of VAR to intervene and stated that the team felt “targeted” after being on the wrong end of multiple poor decisions.
STATEMENT FROM CLATTENBURG:
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.
GARY NEVILLE CALLED ON MARK TO RESIGN
Responding to the statement, he said: “It’s like a mafia gang statement, honestly. What the hell are they playing at?
“I think everyone would have empathy and sympathy with Nottingham Forest this season with some of the decisions that they’ve had, but they’ve grabbed defeat from victory in the way they’ve handled it. It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing.
“Some of those things that they’re saying in there, the suggestion that they are inferring cheating because there is a VAR in Stockley Park who is a Luton fan is a scandal. They will pay for that, and they will regret that as a football club, in terms of their history and how they have presented themselves very well over a long period of time. They will regret that.
“The last line, this ‘explore all options’, I was very critical of Liverpool earlier on in the season after the Tottenham game (when Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed). Clubs have got to stop saying that. Sue? Replay the game? Take points back? What are your options?
“Your options are that you can whinge a little bit if you want, you can be upset, but you haven’t got any options. This is a sporting situation. Unless we’re going to class referees and officials as cheats, which we’re not, we never go down that route, they’re not. So get rid of that ‘explore all options.’ Nottingham Forest today have let themselves down badly in the midst of having a couple of bad decisions go against them.”
“Mark Clattenburg must resign tonight,” continued Neville. “He must resign from his job at Nottingham Forest.
“If he sees those words that go out which question integrity, and essentially call a VAR a cheat because he supports a certain club, then he’s supporting what’s being said and he would basically lose all credibility with referees in the game.
“He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement, in my opinion.”
New – Sky Sports issue apology to #nffc “for any offence caused” by Gary Neville comments after 2-0 defeat at Everton in April. Neville said Forest’s post-match statement was “like a Mafia gang” and insisted consultant Mark Clattenburg should resign https://t.co/f9ybwxKXIw
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 5, 2024
This is how fans reacted as Sky Sports issue an apology to Nottingham Forest over remarks by pundit Gary Neville…
@totoedifer: Everything he said was entirely correct?
@shanearmy1: He still ain’t coming to the ground!
@MarkShaw_Design: So sky has, Gary hasn’t. But then again they still employ someone who spat at someone so not expecting much
@warrenallsworth: I hope they also apologised to Clattenberg. Nevilles comments went beyond professional into a personal attack.
@Sharoncroker1: Is that it 🤔 how about Neville himself apologises to #NFFC but no hide behind Sky Sports instead
@Hotrod505: @GNev2 needs to resign, he has to resign, he must must must resign, I cant see any other outcome but him resigning
@GARYF14: Gary Neville should be apologising also. And very publicly.
@davidincognac: lets see Neville apologise
@KJMsport57: About time too. #nffc
@SagaciousFellow: Rather an apology from little Neville tbh
@NFFC_FPL: Too late, more concerned about a statement than the standard of officiating in the premier league, that’s the real problem here.
@JackPLoftus: Pathetic 😂
@Jcardwell2011: What a grovelling mess this bloke is. Stands there so confidently with his opinions then apologises about his opinions. What a weak man
@bally2002: 🤣🤣 we get the last laugh… Gary Neville what a wanker, what a wanker ✊
@MachismoDonny: Neville and Sky Sports shat themselves when Marinakis threatened legal action
@Forest_No_22: If I call Gary Neville an absolute c-nt and my mum apologises in 3 months time, does that apology have any credibility whatsoever? #NFFC
@nffckez: Forest really are making a mockery of it atm aren’t they 😭 3rd choice CB sold for 27m, 3rd choice keeper sold for 10-15m, apologies from the premier leagues sport broadcaster 😂😂😂 now where’s that 6ft8 keeper who gets into cars with drunk drivers? #nffc
@Forest_Review: Tail between legs moment for @GNev2. Not that it makes any difference whatsoever. #NFFC
@Chris78901: Dog walking the self appointed prime minister of football wasn’t quite what I had on my bingo card for today #nffc
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