Reports: Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis sues Palace over gun banner
London, Aug 10, 2026 (AFP) -
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has filed a defamation lawsuit against Crystal Palace, according to reports on Monday. The legal action stems from a banner displayed by Palace fans during a Premier League match between the two clubs at Selhurst Park in August 2025. The banner depicted Marinakis holding a gun to midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White's head, accompanied by the message: "Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption."
Marinakis, a 59-year-old Greek shipping and media magnate, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations. In November 2025, the Football Association charged Palace with failing to prevent supporters from engaging in improper, offensive, abusive, or provocative behavior, subsequently fining the club £50,000 ($67,000).
The match between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace occurred amidst heightened tensions, as Forest had replaced Palace in the Europa League following the south London club's relegation to the Conference League for breaching UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. Marinakis, who also owns Olympiacos in Greece and Rio Ave in Portugal, is seeking legal recourse against Palace and unidentified individuals over the alleged defamation.
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