Forest´s PGMOL complaint is about ´bigger picture´, says Dyche

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche has defended the club’s decision to lodge a formal complaint to refereeing body PGMOL, following their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Forest felt Ruben Dias should have been sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Igor Jesus as he was making a run in behind the defence, with referee Rob Jones keeping his cards in his pocket.

The winning goal from Rayan Cherki was also contentious, as Morgan Gibbs-White complained of a foul from Nico O’Reily in the build-up.

However, Dyche is adamant the complaint refers to the “bigger picture”, and not just related to his side’s defeat at the City Ground.

Looking ahead to facing Everton again.

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 29, 2025

“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.” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s not about the Man City game or anything like that, I mean the bigger picture – things that could have been corrected years ago. Feigning injuries, I don’t think that’s 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 notice them.”

Forest have lost their last two league games and sit 17th in the table, with Dyche’s men set to face Everton at home in their final match of 2025.

The reverse fixture earlier this month saw the Toffees run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Dyche will be hoping for a much-improved display against his former employers.