Nottingham Forest make key off-field appointment ahead of West Ham clash

Former referee Mark Clattenburg

Nottingham Forest have appointed former official Mark Clattenburg to the role of referee analyst for the club.

The Reds have been on the receiving end of a number of controversial decisions since promotion to the Premier League. Most recently, last weekend, they felt they should have had a penalty in their 3-2 defeat to Newcastle United when the scoreline was still 2-2.

Having been appointed to the role on an as-and-when consultancy basis, Clattenburg is understood to be in attendance at the City Ground for Forest’s crunch clash with West Ham United. Chief Football Officer at the Premier League Tony Scholes is also at the game, as is owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Earlier this week, Clattenburg said he felt the Reds should have had a spot-kick against the Magpies. Forest argued Taiwo Awoniyi was felled by Martin Dubravka, but Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals. VAR checked but the referee was not called to go to his monitor.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Clattenburg compared the incident with a penalty Taylor awarded to Liverpool in their home match with Newcastle last month. On that occasion, the referee decided Diogo Jota was tripped by Dubravka and pointed to the spot.

“Soft though it was, the decision was awarded in real time,” Clattenburg said of the penalty given at Anfield. “Awoniyi had more of a case than Jota – the raised right arm of Dubravka made it impossible for him to stay on his feet – yet Forest got nothing.

“VAR Tony Harrington cannot escape blame as he did not take the chance to let his colleague correct his error. It is no wonder Forest fans are asking why it is one rule for the Premier League’s biggest clubs and another for them.”

Forest go into their clash with the Hammers sitting two points above the relegation zone. They are yet to register a Premier League win in 2024.

What do you make of Forest’s decision to employ Clattenburg? Have your say in the comments below