Nottingham Forest Owner Draws Spotlight Following FA Action | OneFootball

FA Investigation into Crystal Palace Banner Sparks Tension with Nottingham Forest

The Football Association has opened an investigation after a banner displayed by Crystal Palace supporters depicted Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis pointing a gun at midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. The image, accompanied by the words, “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption!”, has ignited a fierce backlash and placed Palace under scrutiny.

Forest sources have expressed deep frustration that such material was allowed inside Selhurst Park, branding the banner inflammatory and xenophobic. According to insiders, the Midlands club is “hugely disappointed that supporters were permitted to bring the banner into Selhurst Park”.

FA Rules and Potential Sanctions

The FA will now determine whether Crystal Palace breached regulations, with strict rules prohibiting offensive, defamatory and politically charged slogans. Any punishment could have wider implications for stadium security and the responsibilities of host clubs. Crystal Palace have been approached for comment but have yet to issue a public response.

This is not the first time fan behaviour has sparked regulatory concern, but the imagery and language involved have raised the stakes significantly. Nottingham Forest believe that the failure to prevent or condemn the banner has allowed tensions between the two clubs to escalate further.

Rising Hostility After European Dispute

The animosity between the clubs traces back to a controversial summer that saw Crystal Palace relegated into the Europa Conference League while Forest secured a Europa League berth. The switch followed Palace’s breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, a decision that enraged chairman Steve Parish, who branded it “the biggest injustice in the history of football”.

For Forest, the banner has now reopened those wounds. Sources at the City Ground question why Palace’s ownership group, including Woody Johnson, Josh Harris and Parish, have not publicly condemned the actions of their fans. It is a scenario adding to the sense of grievance, particularly given Marinakis’ prominent position and previous allegations he has always strongly denied.

Photo: IMAGO

Gibbs-White’s Role in the Backdrop of Tension

The choice of Morgan Gibbs-White for the banner’s narrative has only heightened intrigue. The England midfielder was linked heavily with Tottenham in the summer after Spurs activated his £60m release clause. However, Gibbs-White opted to stay, signing a new deal and appearing alongside Marinakis during media commitments to underline his commitment to Forest’s project.

That association appears to have fed into the imagery, making the banner all the more provocative. While both clubs will want to refocus on football, this saga demonstrates how off-field narratives can undermine progress on the pitch. For now, all eyes remain on the FA’s response and whether this escalates beyond disciplinary measures into a wider debate about fan behaviour and governance.