SEAN DYCHE RESPONDS TO NOTTINGHAM FOREST REFEREEING COMPLAINTS IN EVERTON WIN

Sean Dyche pointed to Everton’s own frustration with controversial decisions as he responded to Nottingham Forest complaints at Goodison Park.

The away side believed it should have been awarded three penalties in the 2-0 defeat and, on the final whistle, launched into an extraordinary public attack on the officials.

Forest released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, making allegations of bias against them and insisting the club would now consider its options. The Football Association, meanwhile, is now set to investigate the comments.

The outburst will dominate the headlines after a hard-fought win that moved Everton to within touching distance of Premier League survival and inflicted a damaging blow on Forest’s own hopes.

The club believed it should have been awarded spot kicks for two fouls and a handball attributed to Ashley Young.

Referee Anthony Taylor dismissed those claims on the pitch and VAR saw no reason to overturn them.

Dyche said he was unaware of Forest’s complaint when he attended his post-match press conference. Asked whether he thought Everton had been fortunate with the decision-making, he turned to Everton’s sense of dissatisfaction over key decisions that earlier this year led to the club’s Fans’ Forum writing to chief refereeing officer Howard Webb for an explanation.

Issues included the contentious decisions to disallow a Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal at Tottenham Hotspur, the same player’s sending off at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, which was later rescinded, and the lack of penalties given to his team.

On Sunday afternoon, Dyche said: “We have had two penalties this season, which is alarmingly low for the amount we probably should have had. There is frustration around VAR from everyone this season, we have had our moments.

"I did not know that, it is up to them, I can’t control what they do and what they think but I think over a season so far I don’t think we have had our fair share of penalties so I can only look at what we are doing and what we are hoping to get and hopefully who knows, there might be some twists to go for us as this season comes to an end.”

2024-04-22T05:08:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd