Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis breaks silence after storming pitch to confront Nuno Espirito Santo

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has released a statement after storming onto the pitch and having a heated word with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City.

The Tricky Trees guaranteed a spot in Europe for the 2025-26 season thanks to Sunday's stalemate, ending a 30-year absence from the continent since their participation in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup.

However, Forest threw away two potentially crucial points in the race for Champions League football, as Facundo Buonanotte stole a point for Leicester City in the 81st minute at the City Ground.

Santo's side are therefore one point off the top five with just two games to go, and Sunday's draw continued a worrying trend for the Garibaldi, who are winless in three Premier League games and have triumphed in just one of their last six.

The Forest boss then appeared to be target of Marinakis's frustrations at full time, as the Forest owner came down to seemingly remonstrate with Santo for a few seconds before they went their separate ways.

Marinakis explains Santo outburst in Forest-Leicester draw

What do you think Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said to Nuno Espirito Santo after the club's draw against Leicester? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Et4GoRBkTx

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025

Marinakis's actions did not go down well with Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who labelled the 57-year-old's conduct "scandalous" on his X profile, and Marinakis has now spoken publicly for the first time since the incident.

The Greek suggested that the late injury suffered by Taiwo Awoniyi was the source of his frustration, as the Nigerian striker collided with the goal-post and needed a few minutes of treatment before being allowed to continue.

"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 in a statement.

"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 misjudgement 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!".

Marinakis has a right to be angry, but he is angry at the wrong people

© Imago

Santo confirmed after the game that Marinakis was vexed about the Awoniyi situation, as while the striker did see out the game, he was evidently not at 100% after clattering into the frame of the goal.

The Forest boss said that Awoniyi was given the green light by the medical team to keep playing, but by the time they realised a change would be the best course of action, there was no other break in play to make the alteration.

However, the whole situation could have been avoided had the lineswoman's flag gone up for an obvious offside in the counter-attack that led to Awoniyi's injury; it did eventually go up, but not until the move was over, in line with the laws of the game.

That is not Sian Massey-Ellis's fault whatsoever - she was simply following the rules that all officials have to follow - but when a player has so clearly gone early, what is the benefit in delaying raising the flag?

Awoniyi's impact injury may settle down quickly, but it is time to change this unnecessary rule before somebody else picks up a more serious problem in the same scenario.