Everton v Nottingham Forest: Jamie Carragher blasts boring conspiracy theories after criticism
Jamie Carragher has hit out at “conspiracy theories” in the wake of the clash between Everton and Nottingham Forest.
The Sky Sports pundit took to Twitter on 21 April following the 2-0 Toffees win at Goodison Park, which has sparked claims of bias from the visitors that VAR Stuart Attwell was biased against them as a Luton Town fan, after three penalty appeals were turned down, branding the claims “scandalous”.
He had made clear he felt at least one of the shouts should have been given when analysing the game for Sky, but reacted to claims he and fellow pundit Gary Neville were missing the point afterwards to brand corruption allegations “nonsense” and boring.
Carragher wrote: “The nonsense on this platform from all fans about conspiracy theories & corruption from referees bores the life out of me.
“The officials were awful in the [Everton v Forest game] but for a club to talk about an official being corrupted because he supposedly supports another club is scandalous.”
Sky Sports pundit agrees Everton v Forest officials were ‘awful’
For once from an Everton point of view it is possible to view this issue one stage removed, without the outcome already having caused a grievance to the club.
And in some ways it is easy to see why supporters aren’t satisfied with “awful” officials being accepted as part of the game just because it is not deliberate.
Equally, fans of all clubs are often all-too-ready to rage against a supposed agenda against them whenever anything doesn’t go their way, which devalues the idea when something actually might be amiss.
The Toffees surely have more ammunition than most to feel that way, but the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool’s fanbases are also ready to do so at the drop of a hat, despite enjoying huge advantages in many ways.
Thankfully for Sean Dyche and his players this time they were able to make the most of their good fortune and record a much-needed three points, but the shoe has often been on the other foot, and Evertonians know how infuriating it is when the football establishment seems to close ranks and claim bad luck simply has to be accepted.
In the context of a third-straight relegation fight, two points deductions and more possibly to come, and an apparently-absentee owner trying to sell the club to a company that has failed to do so for more than seven months the Toffees could be excused for just celebrating the win and focusing on the Merseyside derby.
But upset at officiating only seems to be getting worse, and if the subject is always shut down and brushed under the carpet it will continue to do so.
In other Everton news, 777 have shown a “huge red flag” in their attempt to takeover the club after their latest move.
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