17 February 2024 , 17:24
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Mark Clattenburg has landed himself a new gig with Nottingham Forest - away from the Gladiators' ring.
As well as officiating the likes of Fire, Apollo and Diamond in the re-make of the popular 80s show, he is now the club's go-between with officialdom. Clattenburg was the guest of owner Evangelos Marinakis as Forest beat West Ham 2-0 on Saturday and is being used to smooth out the relationships between the PGMOL and Forest.
The east Midlands club have been left frustrated by several key decisions this season and it is hoped that this move will improve access to the game's referees and help understand the rationale behind their decisions.
In their 3-2 defeat to Newcastle last weekend, Forest felt they should have been awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Martin Dubravka brought down Taiwo Awoniyi in the box and Clattenburg agreed.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, he compared the incident to a similar one involving Dubravka and Diogo Jota last month where Liverpool were given a penalty. "Awoniyi had more of a case than [Liverpool forward Diogo] Jota - the raised right arm of Dubravka made it impossible for him to stay on his feet - yet Forest got nothing," Clattenburg wrote.
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"VAR Tony Harrington cannot escape blame as he did not take the chance to let his colleague correct his error. It is no wonder Forest fans are asking why it is one rule for the Premier League ’s biggest clubs and another for them."
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was furious about the decision, saying after the game: "Yes (we should have had a penalty). It was really clear. I have seen it over and over again. Have you seen it?
Clattenburg is also the lead referee on BBC TV show Gladiators (BBC)"I have seen the replay over and over again. I am not sure that the referee had the best view of the incident, from behind. But when you have the chance to have VAR look at the replays… it is so obvious.
"That is why I do not understand why the decision was not given. I think it was a defining moment because we came from behind twice, which is very hard against a very good team. You then have a clear chance to be in front.
"We don’t know what would have happened but it clearly changes the game. After all the effort of the boys and how well they were doing things, that was a decisive moment."
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