/images/ppid_59c68470-image-176709503090332057.webp)
Sean Dyche insists Nottingham Forest were right to file a formal complaint with PGMOL after the 2-1 loss to Manchester City, stressing that the club is challenging wider refereeing issues rather than focusing only on one match at the City Ground.
Forest go into their final fixture of 2025 under pressure, after back-to-back league defeats left the team 17th in the table, with Dyche preparing to host former club Everton and seeking a stronger display than recent performances.
The complaint follows controversy from the Manchester City game, where Forest believed Ruben Dias should have received a second yellow card for stopping Igor Jesus as Igor Jesus broke in behind the defence, with referee Rob Jones choosing not to show another card or even reach
for his pocket.
There was further anger over the decisive goal, scored by Rayan Cherki, as Morgan Gibbs-White claimed Nico O'Reily fouled Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up, and those moments formed part of Forest’s evidence, even though Dyche maintains the club’s submission is aimed at long-standing frustrations with officiating standards.
Dyche explained that concerns raised with PGMOL are not limited to one fixtures list or one result, but to regular situations that Dyche believes could have been addressed long before 2025, including player behaviour and how referees are asked to manage games under current protocols.
"I try to be open and honest with it because I think there are certain things in the game that can be corrected very easily. It's not about the Man City game or anything like that, I mean the bigger picturethings that could have been corrected years ago.Feigning injuries, I don't think thats got a place in football. I'm not always on at the referees. Stop them going over to the screen, stop them having to talk to people.Let them just do their jobs, come in the stadium and get on with their jobs and disappear.The best refs, you hardly noticethem. "
Forest now turn attention to Everton, who beat Forest 3-0 earlier this month at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Dyche is keen for a significant response at home, especially against Everton, where Dyche previously worked and built strong links before taking on the Forest role.
The earlier meeting between Nottingham Forest and Everton underlined Forest’s problems at both ends, with the Toffees controlling long spells of that match, and Dyche has spoken internally about tightening Forest’s defending while also finding more clinical finishing in key attacking moments.
| Match | Venue | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City | City Ground | Saturday (latest league match) | 1-2 loss |
| Everton vs Nottingham Forest | Hill Dickinson Stadium | Earlier this month | 3-0 loss |
| Nottingham Forest vs Everton | City Ground | Final match of 2025 | Yet to be played |
The upcoming Everton match also carries extra weight for Nottingham Forest because of the league position, as any positive result could ease pressure heading into 2026, while another defeat might deepen concerns after a difficult run of performances.
Looking ahead to facing Everton again.Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 29, 2025
Dyche’s stance shows Nottingham Forest want clearer standards from referees while still concentrating on improving results on the pitch, and the Everton game now offers a chance to respond to both recent defeats and the controversial Manchester City loss with a stronger, more controlled performance.
