Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis confronted Nuno on pitch: 'Scandalous'

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stepped forward to defend club owner Evangelos Marinakis following a heated on-pitch confrontation that occurred immediately after the team's 2-2 draw with Leicester. The public display of frustration from the owner directed towards his manager drew significant attention and criticism. Former England international and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was particularly scathing, describing Marinakis's actions as "scandalous" and even suggesting that Nuno should consider his future at the club after being subjected to such a public dressing-down.

Nuno confirmed that the subject of the dispute was the condition of striker Taiwo Awoniyi. The substitute, brought on in the 83rd minute, suffered an injury just five minutes later after colliding with a goalpost while attempting a shot. Despite consulting with medical staff, Awoniyi remained on the field, visibly struggling with his mobility for the remainder of the match. This left Forest effectively playing with ten men for the final crucial minutes of a game where a win would have significantly bolstered their chances of a higher league finish and potential Champions League qualification, although they did manage to secure a European spot (guaranteeing at least the Europa League) by avoiding defeat.

Recounting the post-match exchange, Nuno stated, "It was disappointing for everybody. Unfortunately, we had to play the last 10 minutes with one man less. Taiwo gave it a go but it was too painful for him to really push and help the team." He attributed the core issue to "a misunderstanding between the coaching staff and the medical department" regarding Awoniyi's capacity to continue effectively after the injury scare.

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Despite the clear frustration, Nuno was resolute in his defence of Marinakis's outburst. "Of course [we feel] disappointment and frustration," Nuno admitted, "But it is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better. It is his passion and desire to be a big club." Nuno suggested that the intensity displayed by Marinakis was shared by the fanbase, adding, "For sure, many of them would go on the pitch and shake us down. Us as a club, we owe a lot to the Marinakis family."

'Today is a day for celebration...'

Marinakis himself later released a statement echoing Nuno's explanation while contextualising the moment within the club's achievement of securing European football after a 30-year absence. "Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!" the statement read. It acknowledged the frustration surrounding "the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game," concluding, "This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!"

The incident, however, reignited discussions around Marinakis's conduct. The owner previously served a five-game stadium ban earlier in the season for spitting near match officials after a defeat. Forest's legal team clarified that Sunday's confrontation did not trigger any further punitive measures under the terms of that prior sanction.

Marinakis also faces scrutiny due to his ownership of Greek club Olympiakos; he recently placed his shares in a blind trust to comply with UEFA rules preventing individuals from having controlling interests in multiple clubs competing in the same European competition, given Olympiakos's Champions League qualification.