Nottingham Forest lose appeal against £750,000 FA fine over VAR post

Nottingham Forest has faced a setback as their appeal against a £750,000 fine imposed by the Football Association (FA) has been rejected. The fine was originally levied in October 2024 due to a controversial social media post that criticized Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell following Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Everton on April 21, 2024. In that match, the club felt they were unjustly denied three penalty decisions, which prompted their public outcry.

In their post on X, Nottingham Forest alleged that Attwell was a supporter of relegation rivals Luton Town and claimed they had previously alerted the refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), about this potential conflict of interest. The club expressed frustration, stating, “Our patience has been tested multiple times.” The FA described the post as an “egregious, direct and public attack” on Attwell and the integrity of match officials, categorizing it as an unprecedented assault.

Despite arguing that the fine was disproportionate, an independent appeal board upheld the penalty on Monday. In their ruling, they emphasized that the severity of the offense warranted a substantial fine. They noted the post’s viral reach, which resulted in millions of views and caused significant distress to match officials and their families. The board stated, “This was predictable and no doubt intended,” reinforcing the seriousness of Nottingham Forest’s actions.

The club’s defeat against Everton left them precariously positioned just one point above Luton in the relegation battle; however, they ultimately finished the season in 17th place, six points clear of relegation. Meanwhile, Luton Town was relegated to the Championship.

As of now, Nottingham Forest is experiencing a resurgence in form this season, currently sitting third in the Premier League standings with ten matches remaining. The club’s management will need to navigate this fine while focusing on maintaining their competitive edge in the league as they aim for a strong finish to the season.