19 February 2024 , 11:32
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Gary Neville has slammed former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg for taking up a controversial role at Nottingham Forest.
The 15th-placed side are unhappy with a string of on-field and VAR decisions which have gone against them this season, such as Ivan Toney moving the ball at a free-kick against them for Brentford in January. Clattenburg, 48, was spotted sitting in the City Ground directors box on Saturday during Forest's crucial 2-0 win at home to West Ham, having been a guest of owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo and his superiors want Clattenburg, who left the Premier League in 2017, to improve their access to match officials and help understand the rationale behind decisions. The role isn't new in football, as last season Italian giants Roma also appointed a refereeing consultant.
But Neville isn't on board, with the Manchester United legend left asking Clattenburg: "What are you doing?" Speaking about the appointment his Sky Sports podcast, the ex-United captain gave a loud sigh before bemoaning: "You're being employed to go and tell a football club how referees are making mistakes or what mistakes they're making. A fan in the crowd could go and tell you what a referee is thinking.
"I'm disappointed with Nottingham Forest. It's as if, 'Look at all of this, woe me'. I get it, some teams feel as though they've been hard done to, some teams feel they've had bad decisions against them. That happens sometimes during a season and I would've hated it.
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"But to employ an ex-referee to tell you why you're having decisions against you. For me, I think it's a step too far. This is not an attack on Nottingham Forest fans because some of them will probably think it's embarrassing. They won't like the decisions against them, but I'm sure they won't sit there and think that's a really good move by the club."
Clattenburg, who also referees BBC primetime show Gladitors, opened up on his role in a column for the Daily Mail on Monday, saying: "It is not unusual for clubs in other countries to use refereeing consultants, though the Premier League has never embraced this idea to my knowledge.
"Until now, that is, because I'll be working with Forest under the title of match and performance analyst. I will help in the understanding of how and why certain decisions are made, prepare pre-match packs on the officiating teams taking charge of their fixtures, and one of my other main aims will be improving the relationship between the club and the PGMOL."
Your turn! Should clubs be allowed to appoint refereeing consultants? Join the debate in the comments section.
Mark Clattenburg has defended his role (Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)Clattenburg then went on to reel off a number of decisions which have gone against Forest this term, adding: "Considering how much work goes into preparing for Premier League matches, it only makes sense that clubs add to their planning and performance by ensuring they have a good understanding of how the rules are being interpreted by our referees - both on the field and in the VAR hub - because we all know that one decision can be difference between winning and losing."
Fans from clubs across the country are divided on Clattenburg's appointment, with one social media user declaring: "The game is beyond parody." Another was more in favour, asking: "Why shouldn't they? Current refs keep getting things wrong. Even with the huge help of technology."