Nottingham Forest awarded huge six-figure sum by FA after winning landmark legal case

Nottingham Forestwill be paid a six-figure sum after winning a landmark legal case against the Football Associationover allegations of "bias" on its panel.

Forest were initially fined by the FA for a tweet hitting out at VAR following their controversial 2-0 defeat at Everton last April, accusing one of the VAR officials of being a Luton Town fan, a club battling with them for survival.

The tweet read: "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."

Forest were charged with bringing the game into disrepute over the tweet, which garnered 40million views. The FA wanted to fine Forest £1m before eventually lowering it to £750,000. The club protested at the high figure, claiming it was unjustified and said the FA were acting unfairly. However, Graeme McPherson - chair of the FA's panel - rejected their "somewhat hysterical submission".

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After the club appealed, Mr McPherson was chosen to chair the proceedings - which Forest were opposed to because of his prior comments. He later pulled out of the appeal process because of his "pre-existing commitments".

In a separate incident, Forest were fined £125,000 following a mass brawl during a clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and the club appealed. They were shocked after Mr McPherson was selected to chair the appeal and argued he should removed over bias following his "hysterical" comment.

The hearing into the matter has concluded, ruling in Forest's favour as the panel determined that Mr McPherson's previous comments could have been seen as "unjustified, inappropriate and a personal attack". It added that Mr McPherson "suffers from apparent bias in relation to the club" and should not be involved in the Chelsea appeal.

"There can be no doubt but that the description…as 'somewhat hysterical' can fairly be said to be, and would be seen by the notional fair-minded independent observer to be, an unjustified, inappropriate, and personal attack on the club and its legal representatives," the ruling said.

"A fair-minded informed person would consider that there was a real possibility that Mr McPherson was biased against the club.

"The Tribunal has no doubt that, having found that Mr McPherson suffers from apparent bias in relation to the club, and that the bias arises out of disciplinary proceedings brought by the FA against the club, he should not sit on the tribunal dealing with the Chelsea Proceedings."

The FA will now have to search for a new chair to sit on the panel, with the governing body needing to pay £105,750 plus VAT for the cost of the tribunal, which also covers Forest's legal fees.

Mirror Football has reached out to the FA for comment.

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