Nottinghamshire

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The FA will be forced to pay Nottingham Forest a significant sum after losing a landmark legal case with the Premier League club.

Forest faced disciplinary proceedings following their 2-0 defeat by Everton in April last year — a game that included three disputed penalty appeals — having posted on social media that they had warned the PGMOL that the VAR in the game, Stuart Attwell, was a supporter of relegation rivals Luton Town.

But Forest then complained that the barrister appointed to chair the disciplinary panel had been "biased" against them after the club questioned the £1m fine being sought by the FA.

Graeme McPherson KC had said at that hearing that he rejected "the club's somewhat hysterical submission".

However, lawyers have now found that McPherson's comment could be viewed as an "unjustified, inappropriate, and personal attack on the club" after they were fined £750,000 for the social media message, which was posted on platform X.

When Forest appealed the fine, McPherson was selected by the FA to chair the appeal.

However, Forest objected to that appointment because of his previous comments. McPherson eventually recused citing "pre-existing commitments".

But in October, the City Ground club were fined £125,000 for their part in a mass confrontation with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with their opponents also fined £40,000.

Forest appealed against that decision too, with McPherson once more appointed as the chair of the disciplinary panel.

The club argued that his appointment was inappropriate because of the "hysterical" remark and sought an arbitration hearing to resolve the issue.

And that hearing has agreed with Forest, concluding that this was "a case where apparent bias has been made out".

"There can be no doubt but that the description … as 'somewhat hysterical' can fairly be said to be, and would be seen by the notional fair-minded independent observer to be, an unjustified, inappropriate, and personal attack on the club and its legal representatives," the three-person panel, led by Kim Franklin KC, said.

McPherson contested Forest's view but the panel said his use of "hysterical" was "inherently highly pejorative".

A new chair of the panel for the appeal will have to be appointed, with the FA footing the legal bill.

The governing body will have to pay the cost of the tribunal, which was £105,750 plus VAT, and both its own and Forest's legal costs.

A new episode of Shut Up And Show More Football is now available to listen to or download on BBC Sounds.

On this week's episode, host David Jackson was joined by Colin Fray to discuss Forest's Europa league squad and Nuno Espirito Santo's future.

David described no "noises" from the Forest camp in terms of Nuno's future.

"There will be an obvious scrutiny on every decision Nuno makes," Colin added.

"There was a huge amount of positivity going into the West Ham game with the new signings and the squad being put together for the Europa League. The draw itself was made on the Friday before the game.

"Everyone turned up to the City Ground on Sunday with this buoyant feeling. And then the game started.

"You can't have this uncertainty and doubt going on. It has to be sorted. It feels like it's harming the club at the moment.

"Marinakis was talking in glowing terms about Nuno at the Europa League draw. I don't think he'll have that knee-jerk reaction of one bad game and you're out.

"Even if it resolved and Nuno stays in his post, I still think it's going to take him a few weeks and performances to completely regain the support from the Forest fans."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The dust has just about settled on a busy transfer window for Nottingham Forest.

In total, Forest have made 13 signings for about £196m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Omari Hutchinson - Ipswich

• Dilane Bakwa - Strasbourg

• Dan Ndoye - Bologna

• Arnaud Kalimuendo - Rennes

• James McAtee - Manchester City

• Nicolo Savona - Juventus

• Jair Cunha - Botafogo

• Igor Jesus - Botafogo

• John Victor - Botafogo

• Cuiabano - Botafago

• Angus Gunn - Norwich City

• Douglas Luiz - Juventus (loan)

• Oleksandr Zinchenko - Arsenal (loan)

*All permanent unless otherwise stated

As for the outgoings, Anthony Elanga, Danilo and Wayne Hennessey were all among the players whose Forest careers ended this window.

Of all the summer incomings at the City Ground, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have left record signing Omari Hutchinson out of their squad for the Europa League.

The winger, signed from Ipswich Town for £37.5m, is not included in the 22-man squad for Forest's first European campaign in 30 years.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, a deadline day loan signing from Arsenal, is also left out.

Teams can name up to 25 players in their List A squads but Forest only have one club-trained player - Ryan Yates - who was at the club for three or more years between the age of 15 and 21.

Uefa want four club-trained players in squads, otherwise clubs are limited by the numbers they do not have, so Forest can only name a 22-man squad.

Forwards Jota Silva and Taiwo Awoniyi, who are able to leave the City Ground with the Saudi, Greek and Turkish transfer windows still open, are also not included.

Angus Gunn, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano - who has returned to Botafogo on loan - are omitted too.

Forest open their Europa League campaign with a trip to Real Betis on Wednesday, 24 September.

Arsenal and Barcelona are both showing strong interest in Nottingham Forest's 23-year-old Brazilian defender Murillo. (Caughtoffside), external

Forest forward Jota Silva, 26, could still leave for Saudi Arabia or Turkey after seeing a deadline-day move to Sporting collapse. Saudi Pro League side Neom SC are keen on the Portugal international. (Talksport), external

Forest are keen to raise funds following a busy summer transfer window which brought 13 arrivals to the first-team squad. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Ellie Molloson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

This summer's transfer window was the most important for Nottingham Forest since promotion in 2022. After a surprising season, there were concerns that the club might suffer from their success, with key players being scouted for potentially lucrative moves.

However, Forest's strategy was a masterclass in retention and strategic reinforcement, with the only significant departure being that of Anthony Elanga for a club-record £55 million.

The most impressive feat was fending off the so-called 'big six' clubs and extending the contracts of stars such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Morgan Gibbs-White (sorry Tottenham).

With European football on the horizon for the first time in 29 years, squad depth is essential and in total, Evangelos Marinakis brought in 13 new players.

For me, the star of this window is the unbelievable season-long loan of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal, who brings the type of European experience that will be crucial for our young team.

Bringing in him and midfielder Douglas Luiz are a clear statement of intent from Forest to remain in European contention and challenge towards the top of the Premier League.

Overall, it was a very successful transfer window. The clever business and player retention, paired with attractive big-name additions, illustrate we are a club that intends to compete and one that players should dream of playing for.

Rating: 9/10.

Find more from Ellie Molloson at Garibaldi Girls, external

Nottingham Forest are set to sign England Under-17s midfielder Chinaza Nwosu from West Ham, after seeing off competition from other top clubs. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport