The Football Association (FA) has alleged that Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, behaved in an “improper” manner in the City Ground tunnel area following his team’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham. The Greek businessman, who has overseen Forest’s return to Premier League football, now faces a charge from the FA for his post-match actions. The incident occurred after Forest lost their unbeaten run, with tensions running high among the team, coaching staff, and management.
Marinakis, 57, has been given until Monday, October 7, to respond to the charge, which could result in a fine or further disciplinary action. The FA’s statement accuses the Forest owner of breaching the governing body’s rules regarding post-match conduct, particularly for his behavior around the tunnel area immediately after the final whistle.
Controversial Penalty Decision Sparks Tensions
Nottingham Forest’s frustrations during the match seemed to reach a boiling point after Fulham was awarded a decisive penalty in the 51st minute. Referee Josh Smith was urged by the video assistant referee (VAR) to review a potential foul by Forest defender Murillo on Fulham’s Andreas Pereira. After consulting the pitchside monitor, Smith determined that Murillo had scraped his studs along the back of Pereira’s calf, and subsequently awarded a penalty to Fulham.
Raul Jimenez stepped up and converted the penalty, giving Fulham the lead in a match that had previously been evenly contested. This goal ultimately decided the game, handing Forest their first loss of the season. For the home side, the decision seemed to be a turning point, with players and staff expressing their dissatisfaction with the officiating.
Missed Penalty Claims Add to Frustration
The penalty awarded to Fulham was not the only controversial call that left Forest fuming. The team’s appeals for penalties in two separate incidents involving Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi were both dismissed after review by VAR. In Elanga’s case, a challenge inside the box looked questionable, but no penalty was awarded. Similarly, Awoniyi went down in the area under pressure, but once again, VAR chose not to intervene.
These decisions compounded the frustrations for Nottingham Forest, who had been riding high on their strong start to the season. The lack of consistency in the application of VAR has been a point of contention for many Premier League clubs, and this match only added fuel to the debate.
Nuno Espirito Santo was candid in his assessment of the situation, suggesting that the use of VAR had been flawed during the game and left his team feeling short-changed.
“It’s difficult to accept when decisions don’t go your way, especially when they are so crucial,” Nuno said. “The players fought hard, and we were unlucky, but we also feel we weren’t treated fairly with some of the calls.”
Marinakis Involvement amid Misconduct
Reports suggest that his post-match actions were a direct result of his anger at the refereeing decisions that saw his side lose.
As a prominent figure in football, Marinakis has built a reputation for his passionate involvement in the clubs he owns, which includes both Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos in Greece. His reaction to the match reflects his deep emotional investment in the team, though the FA’s misconduct charge indicates that there may be limits to how far that passion can extend.
The club has yet to release an official statement regarding the FA’s charge, but it is expected that Marinakis will issue a response ahead of the October 7 deadline.
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