Nuno Espirito Santo has urged Nottingham Forest to “trust” the referees in the upcoming season, emphasizing the importance of relying on their judgment for critical decisions. As he attempts to temper his previous criticisms, Nuno is focusing on fostering a positive relationship with match officials.
The Forest manager expects Howard Webb, the former World Cup final referee now overseeing officiating in England, to enhance the standard of refereeing. Nuno and Forest defender Neco Williams were recently fined for their conduct towards referees following last season’s loss to Everton.
Nuno was fined £40,000 and handed a suspended one-game touchline ban until 31 May 2026, while Williams faced a £24,000 fine. The penalties stemmed from their dissatisfaction with three penalty decisions during the 2-0 Premier League defeat at Goodison Park in April.
Despite their frustrations, Nuno expressed confidence in the improvements promised by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) under Webb’s leadership. During summer discussions, Nuno addressed his previous critiques and acknowledged the efforts to improve officiating standards.
When questioned about whether he would continue to voice complaints about refereeing decisions in the new season, Nuno responded, “I hope not, honestly.” He emphasized that recent meetings with Webb have left him optimistic about the changes being implemented, which aim to reduce decision-making time and improve overall accuracy.
Nuno believes these efforts will benefit not only Forest but all Premier League teams. He reiterated the need to trust referees as the new season approaches.
A verdict is still pending regarding the charge against Nottingham Forest as a club after their contentious post-match statement following the Everton game. The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), received over 45 million views shortly after the final whistle.
As Nottingham Forest prepares to kick off their 2024-25 Premier League campaign against Bournemouth at the City Ground, Nuno remains focused on maintaining a positive approach towards match officials. Speaking at a pre-match news conference, he emphasized the importance of trust in the officials’ desire to improve.
Meanwhile, the Premier League has communicated with clubs and managers, stressing that public criticism of the video assistant referee (VAR) system can undermine the integrity of the game. The league is placing a renewed emphasis on regulating such comments, with a focus on preventing VAR from becoming an easy scapegoat for teams.
Despite some clubs’ dissatisfaction with VAR, Premier League teams voted 19-1 in June to retain the technology for the new season. Wolves, who proposed the resolution to scrap VAR, were the only club to support its removal. Changes, including the introduction of semi-automated offsides, are set to be implemented this season to minimize game delays, with these adjustments expected to take effect by October.
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