Nottingham Forest Owner Hit with Five-Match Ban
A recent disciplinary hearing has resulted in a five-match stadium ban for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The ban stems from an incident in which Marinakis was accused of spitting at the feet of referee Josh Smith in the tunnel following a defeat to Fulham.
The Incident in Question
According to a quote attributed to referee Smith, Marinakis was standing on his left-hand side at the end of the tunnel when he allegedly spat on the floor next to his left foot. Assistant referee James Mainwaring and fourth official Tim Robinson also witnessed the incident.
Marinakis’ Defense
In his defense, Marinakis claimed that he had coughed, rather than intentionally spitting at the referee’s feet. He attributed his cough to a hacking cough he was experiencing on the day of the incident, which was exacerbated by his heavy cigar smoking. Marinakis stated that he often needs to expectorate or cough, and that his coughs can contain phlegm.
The FA’s Ruling
Despite Marinakis’ claims, the Football Association (FA) ultimately ruled that he was guilty of improper conduct. The FA statement noted that footage of the incident did not support Marinakis’ suggestion that he had coughed, and that common decency would have dictated that he cover his mouth if he were about to cough.
Consequences for Nottingham Forest
The news of Marinakis’ ban came on the same day that Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo was hit with a three-match touchline ban and £55,000 fine for misconduct in a previous match. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was also banned for a match and fined £20,000 for acting in an improper manner towards the fourth official.
Moving Forward
Marinakis’ absence was felt during Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday. The team will need to navigate the challenges of his five-match ban, as well as the disciplinary actions taken against other team members, in order to maintain their competitive edge.
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