BREAKING NEWS;Forest owner Marinakis banned for spitting near officials after Fulham loss

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was issued a five-match stadium ban for improper behaviour after a loss to Fulham; an independent regulatory commission has confirmed the behaviour amounted to spitting near officials; Marinakis denied the allegation, but the FA upheld charge.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was issued a five-match stadium ban after spitting near officials, the FA’s written reasons have revealed.

Earlier this month, the FA charged Marinakis with behaving improperly around the City Ground tunnel during Forest’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham in September.

“Marinakis denied this charge, but it was found proven by the independent regulatory commission,” the FA said in a statement.

In publishing its written reasons behind the decision, the commission later said there was “no excuse” for such an “egregious display of disrespectful behaviour”.

It added that such a lengthy ban will have “real impact on Marinakis” and should act as a “deterrent to others”.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White were also suspended for a separate incident which occurred during a 2-2 draw between Forest and Brighton last month.

What evidence was given to FA?

Quotes attributed to referee, Josh Smith: “As I walked down the tunnel at the end of the match, Mr Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, was stood on my left-hand side at the end of the tunnel.

“As I walked past him, he spat on the floor next to my left foot. This was also seen by James Mainwaring and Tim Robinson.”

Fourth official, Tim Robinson: “I then came back out to continue monitoring the tunnel area and witnessed Mr Evangelos Marinakis making a spitting action as the match officials walked past him.”

Assistant referee, James Mainwaring: “He did not say anything but as we approached him and was close, he spat on the ground as we approached him.”

Assistant referee, Neil Davies: “When we entered, Josh then told me that Mr Marinakis had spat on the floor in his
direction as he walked past him. I did not witness the reported spitting incident.”