Nottingham Forest have issued a passionate statement denying that owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted manager Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday’s fiery 2–2 draw against Leicester City. The club dismissed media speculation as “fake news”, insisting Marinakis’ pitchside appearance was born out of genuine concern, not conflict.
As the final whistle blew on a dramatic East Midlands derby, cameras caught an animated Marinakis approaching Nuno and several staff members on the pitch. Many observers — including pundits like Gary Neville and Danny Murphy — branded the owner’s actions as “scandalous” and “a bad look,” igniting a wave of commentary across social media.
But Forest say the real story is being missed.
The club revealed that striker Taiwo Awoniyi — who collided with the post in the 88th minute — had to undergo emergency abdominal surgery after continuing to play despite being visibly in pain. Forest had already used all three substitution windows, and Awoniyi stayed on the pitch until the end, sparking frustration from Marinakis.
“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain — something no one with genuine care could ignore — triggered him to go onto the pitch. It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him,” the club stated.
Forest pulled no punches in calling out “baseless and ill-informed outrage” from pundits and former players. The club emphasized the need to prioritize facts over clicks, asking public figures to “resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online.”
They also directly addressed rumors of a dressing room clash, saying:
“There was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others… only shared frustration… that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”
- Gary Neville: “An absolute joke… scandalous.”
- Chris Sutton (5 Live): “A real overreaction… it came from care, not conflict.”
- Club Statement: “To Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club — it’s family.”
“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence — over media narratives, inflammatory judgments, and certainly over self-promotion.”
The 27-year-old Nigeria international is said to be currently in an induced coma following surgery for a serious abdominal injury sustained during the match. With Forest still battling relegation, this moment could prove pivotal — both for the squad’s mentality and the club’s stance on player welfare.
By Kelly Were
