FANS will NOT be told which clubs referees supports during the Premier League season.
This is despite the huge controversy surrounding Nottingham Forest last term.
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The West Midlands club criticised PGMOL after believing that Stuart Attwell had been biased against them.
The official was in charge of VAR as Forest were not given three penalties in their defeat against Everton.
The club revealed that they told the Premier League that Atwell was a Luton Town supporter before the game.
The result would have boosted the Hatters’ chances of catching their relegation rivals.
However, the club loyalties of match officials will NOT be made known to the public in the 2024/25 season.
The FA have since sanctioned Nuno Espirito Santo and Neco Williams for their “misconduct” and “media comments” regarding the referee.
The Forest manager was handed a one-match suspended touchline ban and fined £40,000.
While Williams was fined £24,000 and issued a warning for his future conduct.
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The 2-0 win for Everton meant that Forest were plunged further into the relegation battle.
However, they were ultimately able to drag themselves to safety before the end of the season.
Forest’s questions about the integrity of the referees were met with a variety of differing opinions.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “I absolutely disagree [with the Forest statement].
“These kind of things happen more and more in every league in the world but of course I never had doubts about that.
“The referees want to do the job as best as possible. They feel the pressure, we put pressure on them for the passion of the game for the moment but when I sit here and reflect they try to do their best and are under scrutiny with the cameras there. They make a mistake, they feel bad. It’s normal.
“When they do the job, they want to do it well. The game is so difficult, it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It’s not easy.”
Meanwhile, there will be other law changes in the Premier League for the new season.
There will be less injury time added for goals, more substitutes will be allowed to warm-up on the touchline and ball boys can be more active.
Referees will also allow more concussion subs and encroachment on penalties as well as the placement of the ball on the spot.
