Marinakis Sues Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is suing Crystal Palace for defamation after a fan banner depicting him holding a gun to the head of Morgan Gibbs-White appeared during a match. Almost 12 months since the banner appeared midway through the first half of Palace's 1-1 draw with Forest at Selhurst Park, lawyers for Marinakis lodged the claim for defamation against CPFC Ltd and 'persons unknown' at the high court on Monday.
The banner showed the Greek shipping magnate pointing the gun at Gibbs-White, who had been set to join Tottenham last summer before Forest pulled out of the deal, and also featured the message: 'Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.' Marinakis has previously rejected all those allegations.
What Happened?
The incident occurred during a Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park. The fan banner was displayed midway through the first half, and it depicted Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Morgan Gibbs-White.
Why it Matters for Nottingham Forest
The defamation lawsuit is a significant development for Nottingham Forest, as it highlights the club's commitment to protecting its owner's reputation. The lawsuit also raises questions about the role of fans in displaying banners and the responsibility of clubs in preventing such incidents.
What Comes Next?
The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how it will unfold. In the meantime, Nottingham Forest will continue to focus on its upcoming matches, including a Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on 10 October.
As of 11 August 2026, Nottingham Forest stands 16th in the Premier League, with 44 points from 38 games. The team has scored 48 goals and conceded 51, resulting in a -3 goal difference. They are 41 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race. In their last result, Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on 24 May 2026. Currently, Chris Wood is sidelined due to injury.
