NOTTINGHAM FOREST owner Evangelos Marinakis charged on to the pitch to confront his manager Nuno Espirito Santo at the final whistle against Leicester.
Forest conceded in the last ten minutes to draw 2-2 with the Foxes – denting their Champions League aspirations.
He appeared to be arguing with Nuno Espirito Santo[/caption]
The owner seemd frustrated following the 2-2 draw with Leicester[/caption]
Gary Neville was critical of Marinakis’ actions[/caption]
That led Marinakis to enter the field of play as players, coaches and officials went through their post-match handshakes.
The Greek appeared as if he would walk past Nuno initially, but he turned around and spoke to the Forest boss after he had finished his interaction with Oliver Skipp, whom he worked with at Tottenham.
Marinakis began gesticulating and appeared frustrated as he spoke to Nuno in what seemed a forceful manner.
Nuno looked a bit resigned to what he was being told, and stretched out his arms in an almost shrug.
He said a few words back to boss Marinakis, who threw his arms in the air before walking away from the Portuguese.
Nuno explained Marinakis was frustrated over the substitution of Taiwo Awoniyi, who offered little after coming on.
Gary Neville was dismayed by the behaviour, and hit out at Marinakis.
He tweeted: “Scandalous from that Forest owner.
“Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.”
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Neville later emphasised his view again on Sky Sports, saying: “I feel compelled just to mention what the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous.
“If I was Nuno I’d be going and having a strong word with him because that is an absolute scandal.
“He’s just qualified for European competition and where that club’s been, and to be remonstrated with on the pitch in front of their own fans is an absolute joke.”
However Nuno played down the severity of the Forest owner’s actions, suggesting emotions can run high in football.
He told Sky Sports: “It was due to the situation. There was a confusion over the situation of T [Awoniyi].
“There was frustration to play 10 minutes with a player that had so much confidence and being positive that he’s going to score.
“We made the sub, then played with one man less. That causes frustration, it’s obvious.
“Football, football is emotions. It’s difficult to control, especially when we had so much expectation today.”
It is not the first time Marinakis has stormed the pitch following the final whistle.
In March last year he entered the pitch to speak to officials after Darwin Nunez snatched a last-gasp winner for Liverpool at the City Ground.
He was left fuming after the Reds took advantage of nine minutes stoppage time to score.
Referee Paul Tierney also stopped a Forest attack after Ibrahima Kontate went down with an apparent head injury.
Marinakis was allegedly removed by security after chasing Tierney down the tunnel.