Anthony Taylor is criticized by Mark Clattenburg for the penalties given to Forest and Liverpool.

Referee Anthony Taylor has come under fire from Mark Clattenburg for applying disparate calls to similar penalty occurrences involving Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Bruno Guimaraes scored the game-winning goal 24 minutes from time as Forest lost 3-2 to Newcastle at the City Ground on Saturday. Taylor was the referee.

Unlucky for Forest, Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had felled Taiwo Awoniyi in the box, denying them a spot-kick with the score at 2-2. Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of Forest, was furious when Taylor rejected their appeals and VAR was unable to change his judgment to not award a penalty even though replays showed that contact had occurred.

Before retiring as a Premier League referee in 2017, Clattenburg officiated for many years in the league. In his opinion, Forest had a stronger case than Liverpool did when Diogo Jota scored a penalty after Dubravka made a similar trip earlier this month.

Clattenburg stated in his Daily Mail column, “Just last month, Liverpool were awarded a penalty at Anfield when Diogo Jota was judged to have been tripped by Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka.”

“The choice was made in real time, notwithstanding its softness. That day’s referee? Anthony Taylor, who denied Nottingham Forest a penalty after the same goalkeeper tripped Taiwo Awoniyi.

“The score was 2-2 at the time, and Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was correct when he said that this was the game’s pivotal moment. Jota did not have as strong a case as Awoniyi. Dubravka was unable to remain upright due to his raised right arm, but Forest received nothing.”

Clattenburg continued, “VAR Tony Harrington cannot escape blame as he did not take the chance to let his colleague correct his error.” Clattenburg claimed that VAR was equally at fault for his failure to step in. It makes sense that supporters of Forest are wondering why the biggest clubs in the Premier League are subject to one set of rules and not others.”

Only three minutes had passed when Forest’s penalty was denied by Newcastle, and that episode was the most recent in a run of dubious Premier League decisions this season. After the final whistle, Forest manager Nuno expressed his disappointment and sadness that a penalty was not awarded, stating that it was the game’s turning point.

“It was a clear penalty, I saw it over and over again, for me it is a clear penalty,” he stated. “Did you see the picture? I repeatedly watched the replay.

Because the incident happened from behind, I believe Anthony Taylor may not have had a clear view of it, but when VAR had an opportunity to examine it, I believe the evidence was clear, which is why I don’t understand the judgment. The ball is obviously still in play. We overcame deficits twice; it is rather difficult to defeat a strong team when you have a clear lead.

“The game’s history has undoubtedly changed, but we have no idea what will happen next. That was undoubtedly a pivotal time. We played well and used pace and quickness to create a lot of situations, so I’m disappointed, upset, and frustrated. We did so many things well and so few things that truly cost us, so I’m dissatisfied.”