The FA are to investigate a banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans during Sunday’s match showing Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis holding a gun to the head of midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
The banner, unfurled in the Holmesdale Stand during the first half, included a speech bubble next to Gibbs-White which read: ‘Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking, or corruption!’
Marinakis has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to such allegations. The banner featured him holding a briefcase overflowing with cash.
It also depicted a figure, resembling a UEFA delegate, standing behind bags labelled ‘correspondence’, one of which was embossed with the UEFA logo and Forest badge.
Ex-Palace minority shareholder John Textor was portrayed as a clown, while there was a sign pointing to the Europa League with ‘Win FA Cup’ crossed out and replaced by ‘Sue UEFA’.
A ship with Marinakis’s name was also part of the display.
The FA are to investigate a banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans during Sunday’s match mocking Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis
The banner shows Forest owner Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Morgan Gibbs-White
Ex-Palace minority shareholder John Textor was portrayed as a clown on the banner
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The FA has strict rules when it comes to banners displaying foul language, offensive messages, or political slogans.
Forest are reportedly annoyed that Palace did not take more stringent action to prevent the banner from being displayed, believing it was xenophobic, according to the BBC.
As per that report, Forest are also questioning why Palace’s ownership group of Woody Johnson, Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer have not condemned the banner in a public statement.
After Forest’s 1-1 draw with Palace, Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that his future remains uncertain.
Nuno dismissed the idea he might walk away from the City Ground as ‘absurd’ but his fate lies in the hands of Marinakis.
Tension surrounds recruitment strategy and, despite four new signings last week, three of whom made their debuts at Selhurst Park, the Portuguese head coach says his squad requires three more before the deadline to be competitive on all fronts this season.
‘I cannot answer that question,’ replied Nuno when asked if he expected to be in his job when the transfer window closes. ‘What I know is that I’m working and trying to do the job the best I can.
‘Of course, the situation has to be solved. And we are responsible people, we are going to have good conversations to try to create more than anything a good platform for what is the most important, the team.
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his Nottingham Forest future remains uncertain
‘Everybody wants the best for Forest. Me, the first. The president, the first. All at the club wants the best for Forest.
‘In my career, it’s the first time I face a situation being asked these things and it’s not helpful, but I believe working in conflict doesn’t work out. We have to create harmony. We need it.’
Nuno said there would be talks with Marinakis and global head of football Edu in the days ahead.
‘We are going to have it, we must,’ he added. ‘We need these conversations and we will have them. It’s more important than anything. What’s going to be said is normal. And the players need it, the squad needs it, the club needs it. All of us need it and we’re going to have it.
‘Not only us three, all the club has to come together. First, let’s try to complete our squad. This is really important in the final days of this transfer market.
‘We need I would say three, one goalie more and two full backs because you cannot live with the fear that something happens to Ola Aina or Neco Williams. We need this. After this, what is important is Forest. Not the people.’
Angst behind the scenes has clouded what should be the start of an exciting campaign for Forest, back in Europe with the draws made at the end of the week.
‘There are things I cannot control,’ said Nuno. ‘What comes out, the sacking rumours, you cannot control that. I have thought long about it, and my concern is for the squad.
‘These boys achieved something fantastic last season. If we as a club don’t help them in terms of numbers and quality and talent, everything will go. What we have ahead, the Premier League, the Europa League, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, you know how many games this means. This is the respect we have to show to our squad.’