Nottingham Forest owner enters pitch to fume at manager Nuno Espirito Santo | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis came onto the pitch to remonstrate with manager Nuno Espirito Santo after they dropped points in the race for Champions League qualification.

Forest drew 2-2 with relegated Leicester, with Facundo Buonanotte scoring the equaliser in the 81st minute, as the hosts missed the chance to move into the top-five after Chelsea’s defeat at Newcastle earlier.

While they were disappointed, the result actually confirmed Forest’s place in Europe next season, and there are still two games left to try and secure a return to the Champions League.

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Evangelos Marinakis stormed onto the pitch to remonstarate with manager Nuno (PA Wire)

There were extraordinary scenes, however, as Forest owner Marinakis came down from the stands and entered the pitch at full-time. Marinakis appeared to speak angrily towards Nuno.

Marinakis later explained that his frustration was down to the “medical staff’s misjudgement” following an injury to Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi as they chased a late winner.

Awoniyi hurt his knee when he collided with the post, but Forest’s medical staff signalled that the striker was able to continue.

Nuno therefore made the decision to bring off midfielder Elliot Anderson and send on Jota Silva. Awoniyi came back on but was limping heavily and effectively left Forest down to 10 players.

Nuno looked to downplay the confrontation, however, calling it a “misunderstanding”, and Greek businessman Marinakis released a statement explaining his frustration.

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Awoniyi was injured when he collided with the post (Getty Images)

"Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again - a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion” he said.

"With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game. We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.

"Everybody - coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself - we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff's misjudgment on Taiwo's ability to continue the game.

"This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let's all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!"

The incident was shown on Sky Sports and former defender Jamie Carragher reacted on air by telling Marinakis to “get off the pitch”, while Gary Neville described the incident as “scandalous”.

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo defended the club’s owner (PA Wire)

But Nuno remained diplomatic and explained to Sky Sports: “There was a confusion over the situation of (Taiwo 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.

"We made the sub, then played with one man less. That causes frustration, it's obvious... When there's a player down, you get information about them. We got information he was okay to keep going.

"Unfortunately, we didn't have another stoppage to change him and he was not able to continue to help the team. We're all frustrated."

Nuno also told Match of the Day: “Football is emotions. Today there were more than 30,000 people in the ground with their own emotions.

“It was a tough moment, after the situation with [Awoniyi] we had one man less after a misunderstanding. It's difficult to control emotions when we had so much expectation on a day like this.

“It was because of that [Awoniyi]. It was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication. I’m sorry, I cannot go much further.

“It’s based on emotions, you cannot make a big deal out of it. It happens and it will happen again. With the emotions today, it’s understandable.”

Neville, who was at Anfield was Liverpool’s game against Arsenal in the later kick-off, said Marinakis’ reaction was a “joke” after having finished 17th the year before.

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Forest were disappointed to drop points (REUTERS)

“I feel compelled just to mention what the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous,” Neville said.

“I was Nuno I'd be going and having a strong word with him because that is an absolute scandal.

“He's just qualified for European competition and where that club's been, and to be remonstrated with on the pitch in front of their own fans is an absolute joke.”

Nuno's side looked certainties to qualify for Europe's premier club competition at the start of April until a run of just one win in the last six which has left them in the last-chance saloon.

Chris Wood's 20th goal of the season put them on course to beat their East Midlands rivals, after Morgan Gibbs-White earlier cancelled out Conor Coady's opener.

But Buonanotte had the final say, which saw owner Marinakis take umbrage with his manager in unsavoury scenes at the full-time whistle.

They are no longer in charge of their own destiny as even if they win their final two games, including a final-day meeting with Chelsea, it might not be enough unless Aston Villa, Manchester City or Newcastle drop points along the way.

The result does not change anything for Leicester, who are already condemned to the drop, but denting Forest's ambitions will be sweet.