“A rematch in view?” Premier League told to CALL emergency meeting after ‘shameful’ reaction to Everton win over Nottingham Forest and Everton victory will now be…….

Premier League told to take drastic step after ‘shameful’ response to Everton win

Peter Walton believes action needs to be taken ‘swiftly and decisively’ after Nottingham Forest’s extraordinary outburst

Referee Anthony Taylor gestures during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on April 21, 2024

Former referee Peter Walton believes the Premier League must call an emergency meeting following Nottingham Forest’s complaints following the club’s defeat against Everton.

The club issued a statement on the final whistle of the 2-0 loss, claiming the failure to award any of three penalty claims was ‘unacceptable’ and alleging the VAR for the match, Stuart Attwell, is a supporter of fellow relegation rival Luton Town.

Walton slammed the statement as “shameful” and called on the FA to act “swiftly and decisively” to ensure such responses are not repeated.

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Writing in The Times, Walton said: “The Premier League is the envy of the world. With their shameful statement, Nottingham Forest crossed an invisible line and called into question the integrity of the league. They have risked devaluing our game in the eyes of the world.”

The former top flight official said there will always be debate over decisions but the content of Forest’s statement, publicly questioning the integrity of the Attwell, was unacceptable.

He pointed to the appointment of fellow ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg as an advisor to Forest as appearing to have led to the club becoming bolder in its complaints and highlighted the fine and two match ban coach Steven Reid received for disputing a decision against Liverpool last month. He said those sanctions had clearly not been a strong enough deterrent.

Walton, who added his belief that none of three claims were strong enough for VAR to overturn the decisions of on-field referee Anthony Taylor, said: “The Premier League should call an emergency general meeting of owners and chairmen to remind them of their responsibilities and reiterate standards. In the longer term, I would like to see a more stringent set of punishments drawn up.”