Nottingham Forest have issued a strong rebuttal to suggestions that club owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted manager Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City, calling reports of a dispute “fake news.”
The Greek businessman was seen animatedly speaking to Nuno on the pitch after the full-time whistle, prompting widespread speculation about a rift between the pair. However, in a lengthy and impassioned statement released on Tuesday, the club denied any confrontation took place and defended Marinakis’ actions as those of a deeply invested leader responding emotionally to a serious injury suffered by striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
Awoniyi, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute while attempting to score from an Anthony Elanga cross. Though visibly in pain, the Nigerian forward continued to play as Forest had already used their three substitution windows. The club later confirmed that Awoniyi required “urgent surgery” on an abdominal injury and is now recovering well.
Forest stated that Marinakis’ pitchside presence was “instinctive” and “human,” driven by “deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment” in both the player and the team.
“To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club – it’s family,” the club said. “His reaction was one of deep care… He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.”
They further clarified: “The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”
The statement condemned what the club described as “baseless and ill-informed outrage” in the media, accusing former players and pundits of making inflammatory remarks for “personal social media traction.”
The incident has sparked debate across football media. On Sky Sports, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville described Marinakis’ behaviour as “an absolute joke” and “scandalous.” BBC’s Match of the Day 2 pundit Danny Murphy said it was “not a great look” for the Forest owner.
However, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton offered a different take during BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club: “I was at the match. I think there was a real overreaction… The anger came because Marinakis cared – this wasn’t aimed at Nuno.”
In an effort to quell speculation and redirect attention to player welfare, Forest’s statement urged restraint and responsibility from high-profile voices.
“We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others,” the statement read. “Let concern come before commentary.”
The club reiterated its commitment to prioritising the physical and mental health of its players and staff, emphasising that this principle “must always take precedence – over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion.”
This is not the first time Marinakis’ high-profile style of leadership has drawn attention. Known for his passionate involvement, the shipping magnate and owner of Olympiacos has a reputation for being both influential and controversial in football circles.
Forest’s draw with Leicester leaves them in the thick of a tight relegation battle. While the club’s immediate focus remains on Premier League survival, the incident has raised wider questions about the role of owners in matchday proceedings – and the fine line between passion and interference.
Whether Marinakis’ actions will have any long-term consequences remains to be seen. For now, the club stands firmly behind its owner, rejecting speculation and reaffirming unity during a crucial period.
“It’s not about ego or optics,” Forest concluded. “It’s about people. That’s what real leadership looks like in our game.”
