Referees chief Howard Webb dismissed Nottingham Forest's request for Stuart Attwell to be removed from VAR duty in defeat to Everton - after the issue was raised in conversation with Mark Clattenburg

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Howard Webb told Nottingham Forest he would not remove Stuart Attwell from duty at Everton after he was made aware of the VAR's Luton Town allegiance, Mail Sport understands.

During an eight-minute conversation with Mark Clattenburg – a consultant to Forest's board - on Friday morning, Webb said he did not know that Attwell was a Luton supporter.

Clattenburg explained that the information was readily available online and the club had expected it to be raised at Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-match press conference.

Webb, we are told, said he did not believe it necessary to change the appointment and was annoyed by the suggestion.

Clattenburg accepted Webb's stance but his view was that such appointments could cause an issue for the PGMOL, given Forest and Luton are currently 17th and 18th in the Premier League. He communicated that Forest wanted Attwell to be swapped for another official.

Howard Webb (pictured) told Nottingham Forest he would not remove Stuart Attwell from duty at Everton

Nottingham Forest stated they have warned PGMOL not to have Stuart Attwell as the VAR

Attwell was criticised over a number of decisions that went against Forest on Sunday

Forest were then denied what they believed to be three clear penalties during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park. Attwell did not send referee Anthony Taylor to his pitchside monitor to review any of the incidents.

The club, whose owner Evangelos Marinakis was furious with the decisions, wrote on X: 'Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn't change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.'

PGMOL insiders claim Clattenburg did not ask for the appointment to be changed and nor did Forest have a problem with Attwell's involvement. They also say the pair spoke after Nuno's press conference, in which Attwell was not mentioned. However, Nuno met the press at 1.30pm and we can reveal Webb and Clattenburg spoke at 10.30am.

Sources insist that in raising their concern over Attwell's allegiance, Forest invited Webb to review the appointment, contrary to what the PGMOL now claim.