Forest owner suspended for spitting as referees passed by

Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-match ban for spitting on the ground while the refereeing team was passing by.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-match ban for spitting on the ground as the match officials walked past him. Marinakis, who also owns Olympiakos , was found guilty of improper conduct over the incident following Nuno Espírito Santo’s Forest side’s 1-0 defeat by Marco Silva’s Fulham on 28 September.

The incident came after the Tricky Trees ‘ unbeaten start to the season came to an end following a VAR penalty awarded to Fulham . Referee Josh Smith, assistant James Mainwaring and fourth official Tim Robinson all gave written statements saying they saw Marinakis spit on the ground towards them as they walked towards the dressing room.

The Greek businessman claimed that he had a bad cough because he smokes between two and three cigars a day, and that the incident had not been intentional. The disciplinary committee rejected this defence, highlighting the fact that none of the referees’ statements mentioned the alleged cough, and that the images from the tunnel’s CCTV cameras did not confirm this claim.

In publishing the written reasons behind the decision, the commission said there was “no excuse” for such a “blatant display of disrespectful behaviour” that could “fuel disrespect for match officials”.

Nuno Espírito Santo was also punished by the committee following his expulsion against Brighton (2-2). The Portuguese coach received a three-match suspension, as well as a fine of 66 thousand euros.