‘Must Resign Tonight’ – Gary Neville demands high-profile exit over Nottingham Forest controversy at Everton

Mark Clattenberg has to resign from his job at Nottingham Forest after the officiating controversy in their defeat to Everton, says Gary Neville.

The Sky Sports pundit insisted live on the post-match coverage of Fulham vs Liverpool (21 April) that the City Ground refereeing consultant must walk out after the club accused VAR Stuart Attwell of bias over his support or relegation rivals Luton Town.

Forest were furious to have three penalty appeals turned down by Anthony Taylor at Goodison Park, with Attwell deciding against a review for any, with the club’s official Twitter account blaming the official.

Neville said: “Mark Clattenberg must resign tonight. He must resign from his job at Nottingham Forest. Because if he sees those words go out which question the integrity and essentially call a VAR official a cheat because he supports a certain club, then he’s supporting what’s being said.

“He would basically lose all credibility, I think, with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement in my opinion.”

Sky Sports pundit outraged at Everton vs Forest fallout
A game which ended in a crucial three points for the Toffees and some breathing room between them and their relegation rivals has erupted into controversy at the City Ground.

Clattenberg’s position at the club is unconventional as it is and he has now been put into direct opposition to his former colleagues.

So if he remains in place and backs up the allegations towards Attwell and PGMOL it would be a major statement against the officiating in the Premier League.

An investigation is already tipped to see Forest punished over the claims, with the authorities notoriously unsympathetic to suggestions that those in charge of games aren’t impartial.

Frank Lampard was fined two years ago for his comments about Attwell after a Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, and the latest incident goes even further.

Sean Dyche at least will be relieved that it is not his side that are at the centre of the storm for once, after Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil scored the goals to get him a vital second win of 2024 and, he will hope, set them back on track to climb away from relegation danger.