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Nottingham Forest have released a stunning statement hitting out at the officiating during the club's 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.

The 'Tricky Trees' dramatically accused the PGMOL of deploying a Luton Town fan in Stuart Attwell to work VAR during their six-pointer showdown at Goodison Park.

Nuno Espírito Santo was left fuming with some of the decisions in Forest's defeat
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Nuno Espírito Santo was left fuming with some of the decisions in Forest's defeatCredit: Getty

The FA have since confirmed that they will investigate Forest's statement as it calls into question the integrity of the game.

Forest remain just one point and one place above the Hatters in the drop zone after fellow Premier League strugglers Everton eased their own relegation concerns following goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil.

However, the game could have been turned on its head had Ashley Young been punished for any of the three penalty appeals levelled against him during the match.

Young first survived a trip on Giovanni Reyna, a handball claim and a challenge from behind on Callum Hudson-Odoi.

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All three incidents were checked by Atwell on VAR but referee Anthony Taylor's on-field decisions stood for each one.

Forest claimed they'd warned PGMOL over bias ahead of the game and have now warned that they would 'consider its options'.

A statement read: "Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.

"We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options."

Young avoided conceding a penalty over three separate contentious calls
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Young avoided conceding a penalty over three separate contentious callsCredit: Getty
Forest's outrageous statement on social media
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Forest's outrageous statement on social mediaCredit: X

Forest's outspoken statement comes after the club hired former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg as their referees’ analyst.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been active in their complaints over VAR and officials' decisions throughout the season.

Forest also complained about referee Stuart Attwell and his fellow officials in their 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in August.

Willy Boly's sending off against Bournemouth in December saw PGMOL head Howard Webb confirm to Santo that an error was made.

Forest wrote a letter of complaint to the Premier League after Ivan Toney's controversial free-kick goal on his return from his betting ban in Brentford's 3-2 win earlier this year.

Forest claimed they'd warned of official bias ahead of the game
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Forest claimed they'd warned of official bias ahead of the gameCredit: Getty

Forest defender Neco Williams told Sky Sports: "Listen, it's three clear, blatant penalties - everybody watching that game knew they were all penalties.

"They're clear, every single week this happens now we're getting decisions against us.

"I dunno why, is it because we're lower-bottom half of the table team cause I guarantee all the top six teams they're getting every single one of them.

Despite that, their latest grievance was slammed by Jamie Carragher, who labelled their public response as an embarrassment to the club.

Everton pulled away from the struggling pack with a victory
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Everton pulled away from the struggling pack with a victory

He added to Sky Sports: "It tells you where we are with the Premier League now.

"Stuart Atwell and Anthony Taylor have had a horrific day today, awful, and they should be rightfully criticised for that.

"That could be real implications for Nottingham Forest, I get the frustration, but that, what I've just read there on social media, is like a fan in a pub.

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"That's embarrassing from Nottingham Forest, I get the frustration, that rubbish about the VAR's a Luton fan - you can't get involved in that.

"You've gotta show a little bit of class if you're a football club and I get it - the officials have had an awful day, terrible but you can't get involved in that - that's nonsense!"

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