Premier League Referees Euro 2024: Two Of Which Caught Up In Nottingham Forest Controversy

English football officials are set to play significant roles in the upcoming Euro 2024, with a quartet of Premier League referees receiving appointments for the prestigious tournament. Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver have secured their positions as main referees and will oversee the on-pitch proceedings.

Michael Oliver teams up with his assistant referees, Stuart Burt and Dan Cook. In a similar arrangement, Anthony Taylor will be collaborating with Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn as his assistants for the matches in Germany.

Of particular note, Stuart Attwell has been chosen as one of the two Premier League Video Assistant Referees (VARs). His selection comes amid recent contentious rulings involving Nottingham Forest. David Coote joins Attwell as the second VAR from the Premier League.

During the recent match between Everton and Nottingham Forest, controversy arose when three penalty appeals from Nottingham Forest were dismissed, with Anthony Taylor on the pitch and Stuart Attwell upholding the decisions from the VAR station. The debate intensified due to claims of Attwell’s allegiance to Luton Town, stirring discontent within the Nottingham Forest camp.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, now working for Nottingham Forest, contacted Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) head Howard Webb prior to the game to express awareness of potential questions regarding Attwell’s purported favoritism. Despite this, no changes were made to the VAR appointment.

In another significant decision, UEFA’s national teams competitions committee voted in favor of retaining expanded 26-player rosters for the tournament. The increase from the traditional 23-player squads, first implemented at Euro 2020 to mitigate Covid-19 impacts and address the condensed schedule, is anticipated to be confirmed by UEFA’s executive committee.

Coaches from national teams have presented mixed views on the topic, with some advocating for larger squads to better handle injuries and the tournament’s physical rigors, while others argue that a larger group complicates training and adds financial strain on national associations.

The European Championship is scheduled to begin on June 14, with Germany taking on Scotland in Munich, kicking off a football spectacle that is eagerly awaited by fans across the continent.

• English Officials at Euro 2024:
  • Referees:
    • Anthony Taylor with assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn
    • Michael Oliver with assistants Stuart Burt and Dan Cook
  • VARs:
    • Stuart Attwell
    • David Coote