Premier League club Nottingham Forest was held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by already relegated side Leicester City on Sunday but the game was marred by controversy after a livid Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, stormed onto the pitch and expressed his frustrations to manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Marinakis’ frustration was mainly because Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi wasn’t substituted after picking up an injury. Manager Espirito Santo said Marinakis was upset that Awoniyi stayed on the field despite being hurt.
The result left Forest in seventh in the Premier League standings, with their Champions League hopes slipping away. However, Forest secured a return to Europe for the first time in 30 years, Marinakis was fuming when he remonstrated with the manager after the full-time whistle.
Football pundit, Gary Neville, blasted Marinakis for his behaviour. While commenting for Sky Sports, he said, “I feel compelled to mention that I think what the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous.
Que papelão… Marinakis entrando no campo para gritar com Nuno após o empate do Forest. Mesmo que perca a vaga na Champions, clube voltará a competições europeias após décadas de ausência.
— Leonardo Bertozzi (@lbertozzi)
“If I was Nuno, I’d be going and having a very strong word with him, because that is an absolute scandal. He’s just qualified them for a European competition, and from where that club’s been, and to be remonstrated with on that pitch in front of the club’s fans is an absolute joke,” he added.
The former Manchester United defender also slammed the Forest owner on social media: He wrote, “Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.”
Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans,players and manager do not deserve that
— Gary Neville (@GNev2)
Earlier, Awoniyi had come on as a late substitute as Forest searched for a winner but the 27-year-old forward needed treatment when he clattered into the far post on a quick counter-attack.
Although he rejoined the game minutes later, he was limping around as Forest failed to find the goal needed to move up to fifth.
“It was due to the situation. There was a confusion over the situation of (Awoniyi). There was frustration to play 10 minutes with a player that had so much confidence and being positive that he’s going to score,” Espirito Santo told Sky Sports.
