Everton: Darren Bent slams Nottingham Forest on air after ‘appalling’ Goodison Park controversy
Darren Bent has slammed Nottingham Forest live on talkSPORT for their statement following their controversial defeat to Everton.
Sean Dyche’s side claimed all three points with a 2-0 win at Goodison Park on Sunday (21 April) but were fortunate to not concede at least one penalty as three contentious decisions went against the away side.
Forest’s official X account quickly made a post accusing the PGMOL of appointing a Luton Town fan in Stuart Atwell as the VAR and while Bent admitted the decisions were appalling, he felt the away side “crossed the line”.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday (22 April, 5:08) he said: “I think when it comes to social media, I think that’s just the norm now. I think the days of them doing it the proper way through the proper channels are done, we’re an ever-evolving society.
“I agree with them when it comes to the decisions, I think all three were penalties, two you could argue against but the last one is a stone waller. When you start throwing the integrity out there, with Atwell being a Luton fan, that’s below the belt and you’ve crossed the line.
“The last one there’s no excuse, I think the referee tries to make a gesture like he’s got the ball, surely somebody at Stockley Park tells him he didn’t get the ball.
“When you see Ashley Young fly through the back of Hudson-Odoi, the only way you can see Ashley Young getting the ball is by going through Hudson-Odoi. The fact that they don’t give it is just appalling.”
Everton take huge step away from Premier League relegation zone with win over Nottingham Forest
Forest have been slammed by a number of pundits and supporters for the manner of their statement so it is interesting to see Bent suggest that their social media post is just the natural progression of the modern world.
But the footballing world has been united in its belief that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went too far by questioning Atwell’s integrity. Every referee makes bad calls from time to time and it is clear he was just off the pace on Sunday.
Whether or not Forest will take any further action against the PGMOL or the FA remains to be seen, but it is hard to see what action either body will take. Forest are right to be frustrated, but they have handled this terribly.
Hopefully, some punishment will be handed down to Espirito Santo’s side sooner rather than later. They simply cannot question an official’s integrity, even if the decision was appalling.
In other Everton news, Chris Sutton has been left enraged by a “sickening” incident involving Beto against Nottingham Forest
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