Nuno Espirito Santo: Nottingham Forest boss says refereeing standards have dropped

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes refereeing standards have dropped in the Premier League.

Forest have been stung by several decisions they feel have gone against them this season, leading them to appoint former top-flight official Mark Clattenburg as a referee analyst.

“If I have to be honest – before was better,” Nuno said.

Forest are three points above the relegation zone and visit third-bottom Luton on Saturday.

Nuno outlined his concerns with the officiating this season as he added: “We had a very strong group of referees who were very experienced. Then a new generation has come, they need time, but we don’t have time.

“We, as professionals of all the clubs, don’t have that time. We can’t ignore these kind of mistakes, I think, can have big repercussions on everybody’s life.

“The explanation is clear. The group of refs that suddenly retired, people like Jon Moss, all those guys, they were experienced, they handled things in a different way.

“We have to give time to these young referees, but it’s not just refs, there’s also VAR, that’s the fourth referee – there are so many people involved.

“What we expect is help in the proper way – proper help for a ref who is in charge of his fifth or sixth game in the Premier League.”

Forest were angry with Liverpool’s winning goal in their last-gasp 1-0 defeat this month.

The ball was not returned to them after Ibrahima Konate went down with a head injury less than two minutes before Darwin Nunez scored – with owner Evangelos Marinakis confronting referee Paul Tierney after the final whistle.

The club, and first-team coach Steven Reid, were charged with misconduct by the Football Association for their protests, with Reid sent off at full-time.

Decisions not to send off Brighton’s Jakub Moder, for a bad challenge on Neco Williams, in the defeat to the Seagulls last week, and Willy Boly’s red card against Bournemouth have also grated.

Forest felt they should have been awarded penalties against West Ham and Newcastle too.

Ivan Toney’s free-kick in the defeat at Brentford in January – where the striker moved the ball and the referee’s foam to engineer a better angle – also drew Forest’s fury.

In August, Forest lodged a complaint with referees’ body the PGMOL over the performance of the officials in their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Nuno added: “They (officials) are professionals like us. They only dedicate themselves to refereeing. When I have a problem with my team I work harder. I invest more of my time.

“I stay longer. I work harder with my analysis, I see training sessions and games. My only way of improving is to work harder and give it more.

“If I work 20 hours, I’m going to work 24 hours. So we expect them to improve – and improve fast.

“If that has to come alongside with more time, more analysis and practice then do it – they are well-paid professionals.”