Nottingham Forest are reportedly taking Sky Sports to court over remarks made by Gary Neville, following their loss against Everton last month.
The East Midlands team questioned Stuart Attwell’s performance as VAR after they were denied what they believed to be three clear penalties, and published a series of statements to social media questioning the integrity of his decisions given his allegiance to their relegation rivals Luton Town.
When news broke of Forest’s statement, Neville, who was on commentary, slammed the club and even suggested their recently-appointed refereeing consultant Mark Clattenburg quit his post, reports the Mirror.
READ MORE: Mark Clattenburg quits as Forest ref consultant and accuses pundits of ‘targeting him’
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest duo charged by FA for fuming comments after Everton VAR drama
Neville blasted: “Mark Clattenburg must resign tonight. If he saw those words go out which question the integrity of a referee and claims someone is a cheat for supporting another club then he’s supporting what is being said.”
Adding further salt to the wound, he added: “It’s like a mafia-gang statement. I mean, honestly, what the hell are they playing at? It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing.
“And some of those things they’re saying in there, the suggestion of some sort of inferring of cheating because there’s an official in VAR in Stockley Park who’s a Luton fan is a scandal, and they will pay for that.”
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(Image: PA)
According to the Daily Mail, Forest have submitted a legal letter to Sky Sports regarding their coverage of the statement and the subsequent fallout.
On Friday, Clattenburg resigned from his role amidst the turmoil. The club, still scrapping to stay in the top flight, now faces FA charges, with Nuno Espirito Santo and Neco Williams in hot water over their conduct post-Everton clash.
(Image: Getty Images)
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The FA has come out swinging, stating: “It’s alleged that the club, manager and player’s comments constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match officials and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
Neville weighed in once more after Clattenburg’s exit, clarifying his stance: “I’m not surprised at all [that he resigned].
“I thought that after the statement that Nottingham Forest made, I don’t think any of us ask for people to resign. We don’t do that, we’re obviously critical at times because that’s the job we’re in. But to ask for people to resign is a very serious step and a severe step.”