Despite a recent barrage of criticism, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remains steadfast in his belief in the impartiality of Premier League officiating.
This defense was launched immediately after Nottingham Forest took to social media to vent their anger at the way their match versus Everton was officiated. The Forests suffered a 2-0 loss in the end, and their disappointment was evident.
Forest didn’t hold back while criticizing the “very bad” refereeing choices, which are currently being investigated and may cause them to reconsider their course of action. Guardiola, nevertheless, didn’t hesitate to stand up for the officials, saying, “They do their best.”
Guardiola understands the split-second decision-making that referees must continually make because he is a member of the competitive, fast-paced world of sports, noting, “It’s not easy.”
For Forest, there were other disappointments besides the loss. They were furious because they were pushed perilously near to the relegation zone after three penalty appeals were denied during the game. Luton, who are presently occupying the awkward slot, is only one point away from Forest.
That was hardly the end of the tension. With audacity, Forest asserted that the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), the entity in charge of officiating, had been informed about a biased VAR but had done nothing about it. This charge fueled the dispute even further by implying that the VAR was biased in favor of Luton.
The Forest club took it a step further by demanding public release of the conversation between video assistant referee Stuart Attwell and on-field official Anthony Taylor. It then transpired that Forest will have the opportunity to hear the controversial VAR audio, but only behind closed doors.
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In contrast, Guardiola echoed his thoughts on the pressure referees face, during a news conference on Wednesday. He sensibly said, “They feel the pressure, we put pressure on them for the passion of the game, for the moment.”
Amidst the growing controversy, Manchester City will go against Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday and then face the embattled Forest club on Sunday.