LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Nottingham Forest have questioned the integrity of match officials in a social media post published shortly after Sunday's 2-0 loss to relegation rivals Everton in the Premier League. It seems so.
Idrissa Gana Gueye's precise shots hit the post in the 29th minute and Dwight McNeil's 76th minute shots secured a crucial victory at Goodison Park as Everton bid to stay in the top division for the next 70 years. .
Immediately after the match, a post from Forest's official X (formerly Twitter) account criticized the visitors for not awarding a penalty.
“We simply cannot accept that three extremely inappropriate decisions were made and three penalties were not awarded,” the post said.
Forrest said he warned the referees before the match that the person overseeing the video review of the match was “a Luton fan”. Luton sit third-last, one point below Forest.
“Our patience has been tested many times,” the post continued. “(Nottingham Forest) will now consider their options.”
Everton are in fifth place from the bottom, moving five points out of the relegation zone with five games remaining. The forest is a lower place, but this can all change.
Both teams had filed appeals in recent weeks after points were canceled for violating the league's financial rules. Everton, who had already been given a six-point penalty, are appealing a further two-point penalty, while Forest are appealing a four-point penalty.
Forest looked most exasperated after an incident in the 44th minute when Everton full-back Ashley Young's right-hander blocked a header six yards inside the box. Despite strong protests from the players on the field and backroom staff, VAR ruled that a penalty was not awarded.
By then, Gana Nguye had put Everton ahead with a clear header and a low shot from outside the area that hit the post.
It was a similar blow for McNeil, but from a little further away, and with more force after a run from near the halfway point.
In stoppage time, Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton substitute Beto collided. Beto's condition worsened and he was taken away on a stretcher, where he was treated by medical staff before raising his hand and giving a thumbs up to the crowd.
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