Nottingham Forest Owner Banned for Spitting Incident

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-match stadium ban following an incident in which he was accused of spitting on the floor as match officials walked past him in the tunnel. This occurred after Forest’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham on 28 September. The independent regulatory commission described the act as “an egregious display of disrespect” and emphasized the need for strict punishment to deter similar behavior.

Referee Josh Smith and his team submitted statements confirming they witnessed the act, and CCTV footage corroborated their account. Marinakis, however, claimed he had a hacking cough due to his cigar habit, insisting the spitting was unintentional. The commission rejected this defense, stating it was a deliberate act of contempt.

Additionally, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White were disciplined for swearing at officials after a previous match against Brighton. Nuno received a three-match touchline ban, and Gibbs-White a one-match suspension. Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, was fined but avoided further sanctions.

This ban is significant, especially considering Marinakis’ role in Nottingham Forest’s season, where they had enjoyed an unbeaten start before this controversy unfolded. His ban highlights the emphasis on respect for officials and the growing scrutiny of off-field conduct across the sport.