Nottingham Forest Owner Evangelos Marinakis Sues Crystal Palace Over Defamatory Banner

Nottingham Forest Owner Evangelos Marinakis Sues Crystal Palace Over Defamatory Banner Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has launched a defamation lawsuit against Crystal Palace over a controversial banner displayed by Palace supporters during a Premier League match last season. The legal action has brought renewed attention to the increasingly bitter relationship between the two clubs, with Nigerian international Ola Aina, a key Forest defender, caught up in the wider rivalry Marinakis filed a claim at the High Court over a banner displayed at Selhurst Park during Palace’s 1 1 draw with Nottingham Forest last August. The banner depicted the Greek businessman holding a gun to the head of Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and referenced allegations involving “blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption. Marinakis has consistently denied wrongdoing relating to such allegations and is now seeking legal redress over the banner. Crystal Palace were previously charged by the Football Association, although the banner itself was not specifically identified as the reason for the disciplinary action. The lawsuit comes amid an increasingly hostile relationship between Forest and Palace. Tensions intensified after Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League because of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, allowing Forest to take their place in the Europa League. The controversial banner appeared while that dispute was still developing. The rivalry has since taken another turn following Oliver Glasner’s departure from Crystal Palace and his appointment as Nottingham Forest manager on a three-year contract. Palace have declined to comment on Marinakis’ legal action. For Nigerian defender Ola Aina, the dispute is an issue surrounding his club rather than a legal case against the player himself. Aina joined Nottingham Forest in 2023 after leaving Torino and has established himself as an important member of the squad. He remains under contract with Forest through 2028.

Forest and Palace are scheduled to meet again in the Premier League on 10 October, with the legal dispute likely to add another layer of interest to the fixture.