Nottingham Forest denies Marinakis-Nuno confrontation, calls media reaction’ fake news’

Nottingham Forest has strongly denied claims of a confrontation between club owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo following their 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday.

The club released a detailed statement dismissing reports of tension between the two as “fake news,” instead attributing Marinakis’ on-pitch presence to concern over an injured player.

The incident occurred after striker Taiwo Awoniyi sustained a serious abdominal injury in the 88th minute of the match. Despite his visible discomfort, the Nigerian forward continued playing because Forest had used all their substitution windows.

The club stated that Marinakis, visibly animated on the pitch, was reacting emotionally to the medical team’s decision to allow Awoniyi to continue despite his condition later requiring urgent surgery.

In its statement, Forest emphasized that Marinakis’ actions were not confrontational but stemmed from “deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment” in the club and its players. “There was no confrontation with Nuno or anyone else,” the statement read. “There was only shared frustration that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”

The club also addressed criticism from prominent football pundits. Gary Neville described Marinakis’ actions as “scandalous,” while Danny Murphy labeled the moment “not a great look.” 

Forest called the media coverage “baseless and ill-informed outrage” driven by social media traction. The club urged former players and public figures to “resist the urge to rush to judgment,” asking for empathy and prioritization of player welfare over online narratives and self-promotion.

Taiwo Awoniyi is reportedly recovering well after surgery. Forest reiterated that the health and well-being of its players remain paramount and praised Marinakis’ leadership in stepping in when he saw a player in visible pain. The club concluded by calling for unity in football during moments that test the game’s values and commitment to player safety.