The Football Association has opened an investigation after a banner displayed by Crystal Palace supporters at Selhurst Park depicted Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis holding a gun to the head of midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
The controversial banner was unfurled during Sunday’s 1-1 draw between Palace and Forest, overshadowing the Premier League encounter. Alongside the illustration of Marinakis pointing a firearm at Gibbs-White, the banner carried the words: “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption!”
The display has sparked outrage at the City Ground, with senior Forest sources describing themselves as “hugely disappointed” that such material was allowed into the stadium. They regard the imagery as inflammatory, xenophobic, and defamatory.
Forest officials are said to be particularly frustrated that Palace and their ownership group — consisting of Steve Parish, Woody Johnson, Josh Harris and David Blitzer — have not publicly condemned the banner. A Palace spokesperson confirmed the club has been contacted by the BBC for comment, while the FA is assessing whether the south London side could face disciplinary action.
Under FA regulations, banners and messages deemed to contain offensive, defamatory, political or discriminatory content are strictly prohibited. The governing body is expected to determine whether Palace breached these rules by failing to prevent supporters from displaying the imagery.
For Marinakis, the incident represents the latest in a long line of controversies surrounding his name. The Greek shipping magnate, who took control of Forest in 2017, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and wrongdoing — all of which he has consistently and vehemently denied. Despite the serious nature of the accusations referenced in the banner, Marinakis has never been found guilty of any criminal offence in relation to them.
The matter also threatens to inflame already strained relations between Palace and Forest, following a turbulent summer in which Palace were removed from the Europa League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. The south London club, which had secured qualification on sporting merit, were relegated to the Europa Conference League, while Forest took their place in the Europa League.
Palace chairman Parish branded UEFA’s decision “the biggest injustice in the history of football,” a statement that caused tensions to simmer between the two clubs well before Sunday’s fixture. The provocative banner now risks widening the rift further.
From Forest’s perspective, the incident is seen as an unacceptable escalation. Sources close to the club argue that more should have been done by Palace stewards and officials to prevent the banner from being displayed, particularly given its potentially defamatory message directed at their owner and the unsettling nature of its depiction of Gibbs-White.
The midfielder himself has endured a tumultuous summer. Gibbs-White appeared close to leaving Forest after Tottenham Hotspur activated his £60m release clause, but a deal failed to materialise. Instead, the 24-year-old England international signed a new contract at the City Ground and gave a joint interview with Marinakis to underline his commitment to the club.
The FA investigation will now examine the timeline of events around the banner, including whether Palace staff were aware of its presence before kick-off and how it was allowed into the ground. Should the governing body determine that Palace breached regulations, the club could face fines or other sanctions.
For Palace, the incident could not have come at a worse time, with supporters already voicing frustration over UEFA’s handling of their European expulsion. For Forest, meanwhile, it has turned what should have been a routine early-season fixture into a flashpoint highlighting broader issues of governance, fan conduct, and inter-club rivalries.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between supporter expression and behaviour that crosses into offensive or defamatory territory. With Gibbs-White’s welfare, Marinakis’s reputation, and Palace’s responsibilities all under scrutiny, the FA’s verdict will be closely watched across English football.
