Nottingham Forest owner hit with five-game stadium ban for tunnel meltdown after Fulham defeat

According to the Football Association, the Forest owner was deemed to have behaved in an "improper" manner at the City Ground tunnel after their defeat to Fulham in late September. The 57-year-old was furious his side were denied two penalty appeals, while Raul Jimenez converted the visitors' spot kick. Marinakis fumed about the incidents and will now pay the price for his actions.

An FA statement said: "Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis has been sanctioned by an independent Regulatory Commission. Evangelos Marinakis was charged with misconduct following Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match against Fulham on Saturday, 28 September. It was alleged that his behaviour around the tunnel area after the final whistle was improper. He denied this charge, but it was found proven by the independent Regulatory Commission, and a five-match stadium/ground suspension has been imposed. The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course."

Marinakis, who also owns Greek side Olympiacos, will now have to watch Forest's matches against Crystal Palace, Leicester City, West Ham, Newcastle and Arsenal away from the stadiums. Incidentally, manager Nuno Espirito Santo has received a three-game touchline ban for his red card during Forest's 2-2 draw with Brighton for fiercely protesting Morgan Gibbs-White's sending off last month.

Marinakis' side - who sit 10th in the Premier League - host lowly Crystal Palace at home on Monday, before rounding off the month against local rivals Leicester next Friday. His stadium ban ends for the visit of Ipswich Town on November 30.