Nottingham Forest didn’t just walk away from Saturday’s match with a 3–0 loss — they left feeling deeply aggrieved.
The club has formally taken its frustrations to refereeing body PGMOL, claiming that Everton’s James Tarkowski should have been shown a red card for an incident officials appeared to completely miss.
A Tense Moment Early in the Game
The controversy unfolded only 11 minutes into the Premier League meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
With Everton already a goal up, Tarkowski pushed Forest’s Dan Ndoye from behind in an off-the-ball moment that flew under the referee’s radar.
Chris Kavanagh let play continue, and VAR official James Bell declined to get involved, insisting the threshold for intervention hadn’t been met.
VAR’s Hands Were Tied
By current rules, VAR can upgrade a yellow card to a red — but they cannot advise the referee to give a yellow when no card has been shown.
Forest believe this technicality left their player unprotected, and the incident has fueled yet another dispute over officiating consistency.
Dyche Surprised His Former Player Was Unpunished
Sean Dyche, now Forest’s manager and previously Tarkowski’s boss at Everton, didn’t hide his disbelief afterward.
He noted that even minor head-to-head contact earns players bookings these days, yet this incident didn’t lead to so much as a caution.
Mixed Opinions From Ref Watch Panel
Sky Sports’ Ref Watch offered a split verdict.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher admitted the moment didn’t stand out to him in real time and suggested it would have been a yellow if spotted — but not a red.
His co-pundit Jay Bothroyd strongly disagreed, calling the challenge “aggressive” and unnecessary, arguing that the force and location of the hit justified sending Tarkowski off.
A History of Frustration With Officials
Forest’s complaint isn’t happening in a vacuum.
The club has had several run-ins with match officials in recent years.
In March 2024, tensions boiled over when first-team coach Steven Reid confronted referee Paul Tierney after a late defeat to Liverpool.
Reid was handed fines and bans, and Forest were issued a hefty charge for failing to keep staff under control.
Past Incidents Still Linger
That same season, the club ignited a major storm after publicly accusing VAR official Stuart Attwell of bias in a defeat to Everton — a post that eventually cost Forest £750,000.
The FA called it an “unparalleled” attack on an official’s integrity, and an appeal from the club was unsuccessful.
A Growing Sense of Injustice
All these moments have created an ongoing tension between Forest and the officials overseeing their matches.
Saturday’s incident has only deepened their belief that key decisions continue to fall against them — and this latest complaint signals they’re not willing to let it slide.
What Happens Next?
PGMOL will now review the complaint, though history suggests Forest may not get the outcome they’re hoping for.
Still, with tempers already running high and past grievances unresolved, this latest episode ensures the debate over officiating isn’t calming down anytime soon.g
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