Nottingham Forest Owner Hit with Five-Match Stadium Ban
In a dramatic turn of events, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been slapped with a five-match stadium ban by the Football Association (FA) for misconduct. The charges stem from Forest’s 1-0 defeat against Fulham on September 28, where Marinakis was found guilty of improper conduct around the tunnel area after the final whistle.
A Double Whammy for Nottingham Forest
But Marinakis isn’t the only one facing the music. Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has also been handed a three-match touchline ban and a hefty £55,000 fine for misconduct during Forest’s 2-2 draw with Brighton in September. The FA alleges that Santo “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official.”
Manager’s Surprise and Disappointment
Santo expressed surprise at the extent of the sanction, saying, “There’s nothing we can do. It’s not for me to judge, my job is to move forward and make sure the coaching staff are ready to help the team.” He added, “We had a hearing, everything was normal. The sanction has been decided. Let’s go.”
More Disciplinary Action
Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has also been banned for a match and fined £20,000 for acting “in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official” in the same match. Meanwhile, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was fined £8,000 for acting in an “improper manner.”
Previous Infractions Catch Up
This isn’t the first time Nottingham Forest has faced disciplinary action. Earlier in October, the club was fined £750,000 ($979,526) over a social media post from last season that targeted video assistant referee Stuart Attwell. It seems the club is still struggling to stay on the right side of the FA’s rules.
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