Premier League back under-fire refs after Nottingham Forest complaints about officials in Man United defeat as Stuart Attwell and Robert Jones are BOTH given matches this weekend

Stuart Attwell and Robert Jones will take charge of Premier League matches this weekend, despite criticism of their performance at Old Trafford at the weekend.

The Premier League has announced Attwell will take charge of Brighton’s home game against Newcastle on Saturday evening, while Jones will officiate Wolves’ trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. 

Jones will also be on VAR duty when Brentford host Bournemouth a day earlier.

The duo were in the spotlight for a series of contentious decisions on Saturday, as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2. 

On Tuesday, Forest lodged a formal complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after Attwell sent off skipper Joe Worrall and awarded United a penalty.

Stuart Attwell has been selected to referee Brighton’s home game against Newcastle on Saturday evening

Robert Jones will officiate Wolves’ trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon

Worrall was deemed to be the last man when he fouled Bruno Fernandes, despite the fact Forest centre-back Willy Boly was close by.

Attwell then awarded United a penalty just minutes later after Danilo fouled Marcus Rashford in the box, with Fernandes converting what ultimately proved to be the winning goal.

Speaking to Mail Sport football editor Ian Ladyman on the brand new podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’, co-host and Premier League winner Chris Sutton said Rashford had dived to win a penalty.

Jones was the VAR official at Old Trafford and upheld both calls after reviewing the incidents. 

‘Stuart Attwell awarded the penalty and it was Rob Jones in the VAR,’ Sutton said.

‘So I understand why Stuart Attwell awarded it in real time, but Rob Jones should be strong enough then to look at it and he had all the angles to see that Marcus Rashford clearly dived and this not a clear and obvious error as far as I’m concerned, that’s utter rubbish. 

‘It’s either a penalty or it’s not a penalty. It was a dive, I think you agree with that. So therefore, it shouldn’t have been awarded.’

Forest manager Steve Cooper was left seething at the officiating, but refused to openly criticise Attwell.

Attwell came under scrutiny on Saturday for sending off Joe Worrall and awarding Manchester United a penalty as Erik ten Hag’s men came back from behind to beat Forest 3-2

Many felt Attwell’s decision to award United a penalty for a foul on Marcus Rashford was soft

‘In games like this you need things to be how they should,’ he said after the game. 

‘I am not going to talk too much as I don’t want to get into trouble but I was surprised how quickly the decisions were made.

‘You just bite your tongue in terms of what [you] really feel but of course they were defining moments.’

Meanwhile, Michel Oliver will take charge of Manchester City’s home game against Fulham on Saturday and Anthony Taylor will officiate United’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.