Simon Hooper will take charge of Nottingham Forest’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday – the club’s first game since their remarkable tirade at Premier League officials.
Forest are likely to be in the dock for their furious post on X after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Everton, in which they noted that VAR official Stuart Attwell was a fan of relegation rivals Luton.
Forest believed they had three clear penalties rejected by referee Anthony Taylor and Attwell and all eyes will be on Hooper and VAR Peter Bankes at the City Ground on Sunday.
Hooper took charge of Forest’s recent 3-1 defeat at Tottenham, where under-pressure Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticised him for not punishing James Maddison for an apparent punch to the stomach of Ryan Yates in the first half.
Hooper spoke to both players but did not take further action. Nuno said: ‘Maddison loses his composure and it’s a punch in the stomach of Yates. a red card. I’m surprised Simon solved it with a nice chat.
‘I saw the image. I was surprised that VAR didn’t tell Simon to review it.
It should have been reviewed and [led to] a different decision, not to chat with the players and it looks like nothing happens.’