Marinakis to Sue Crystal Palace

The tension between Nottingham Forest's Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis and Crystal Palace has moved to the courts. According to The Athletic, Marinakis has filed a defamation claim with the High Court against the club and "Persons Unknown" over a banner displayed by Crystal Palace supporters during last season's Premier League fixture on August 24.

According to the report, the banner depicted Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, alongside the words: "Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption." It's noted that the banner referenced Gibbs-White's sudden U-turn last summer, when he rejected a move to Tottenham and stayed at Forest, followed by an awkward interview during which Marinakis was pictured alongside him.

Marinakis, who has never been formally charged with any of the stated offences and has consistently and vigorously denied the allegations, has directed his claim at Crystal Palace and "Persons Unknown." According to the report, the Football Association charged Palace in November over the incident, stating the club had failed "to ensure its spectators and/or supporters didn't behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way," before fining the club £50,000 in February. The FA also noted that Palace having a policy to prevent banners being smuggled into the stadium showed the club was aware of the risk. It's recalled that Palace fans blame Marinakis for their club's demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, with the vacated spot going to Forest.

Source: The Athletic
Image: New Aga