Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was given a five-match stadium ban for spitting in the direction of match officials, an independent regulatory commission has said.
Marinakis was handed the huge ban after an incident following Forest’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham at the City Ground on 28 September.
The Greek football club owner was accused of “an egregious display of disrespectful behaviour” that could “fuel disrespect towards match officials” by the commission.
The moment was reported to have happened after full-time in a match where Fulham were awarded a penalty via VAR.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been banned for five matches
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Referee Josh Smith, assistant referee James Mainwaring and fourth official Tim Robinson all submitted written reports insisting that Marikanis spat on the floor in their direction as they walked down the tunnel.
However, the 57-year-old, who also owns Olympiacos, defended himself by saying he had a ‘hacking cough’ brought on by the fact he smokes two or three cigars a day.
He claimed that the incident was unintentional as he was coughing up as a result of his smoking habit.
But the commission rejected this defence, revealing CCTV footage that appeared to back the officials’ statements.
A written report revealed that Marinakis “deliberately spat in a disrespectful and disgusting display of contempt towards the match officials”.
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As such, the commission concluded that this was a case of serious misconduct that warranted a ‘severe punishment’.
Marinakis said that a tunnel and dressing room ban would suffice but he was slapped with a full stadium ban for five matches instead.
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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis insisted he did not spit at the officials on purpose
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Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was also hit with a three-match ban, while Morgan Gibbs-White has also received a one-match ban.
It comes after the Portuguese coach was sent off against Brighton for swearing at the match officials and gesticulating aggressively.
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Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off against Brighton
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Gibbs-White was also sent off during the contest and, while both apologised for their actions, a separate commission hit Nuno with a three-match ban due to his previous behaviour.
The former Tottenham boss has been guilty of misconduct twice before, including post-match comments made by the 50-year-old after a 2-0 defeat to Everton in April.