Last week, Nottingham Forest announced the remarkable hiring of former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg.
In his new position as an analyst, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is adamant that he will assist Nottingham Forest in better comprehending the regulations that referees uphold.
The retired referee, who co-stars in BBC’s primetime show Gladiators, was named the team’s new “match and performance analyst” last week. Although the position is exclusive to the Premier League, clubs all over Europe use people just like them to get a feel for the referees for their next games.
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In an interview with the Daily Mail on his new position, Clattenburg listed four decisions that, in his opinion, have gone against Forest so far this season. He wrote: “To my knowledge, the Premier League has never adopted the idea of refereeing consultants, but it is not unusual for clubs in other nations to do so.
“Until now, that is, because I’ll be working with Forest under the title of ‘match and performance analyst.’ I will help in the understanding of how and why certain decisions are made, prepare pre-match packs on the officiating teams taking charge of their fixtures, and one of my other main aims will be improving the relationship between the club and the PGMOL.
“It is no secret that Forest have been on the receiving end of controversial calls this season. There was Ivan Toney’s goal for Brentford when he moved the ball – and the referee’s foam – before scoring his free-kick. There was the harsh red card for Joe Worrall and penalty awarded for an apparent foul by Danilo against Manchester United.
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“There was Willy Boly being shown a second yellow against Bournemouth even though he won the ball. There was the failure to award them an obvious penalty when Taiwo Awoniyi was tripped by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. “These are not insignificant incidents when you are a club trying to stay in the Premier League.”
Former United captain Gary Neville was less than impressed with the club appointing Clattenburg
“You’re being employed to go and tell a football club how referees are making mistakes or what mistakes they’re making. A fan in the crowd could go and tell you what a referee is thinking.
“I’m disappointed with Nottingham Forest. It’s as if, look at all of this, woe me.
“I get it, some teams feel as though they’ve been hard done to, and some teams feel they’ve had bad decisions against them. That happens sometimes during a season and I would have hated it.
“But to employ an ex-referee to tell you why you’re having decisions against you. For me, I think it’s a step too far.
“This is not an attack on Nottingham Forest fans because some of them will probably think it’s embarrassing. They won’t like the decisions against them, but I’m sure they won’t sit there and think that’s a really good move by the club.”