Gary Neville told ‘get on the phone to Marinakis and apologise’ after being ‘out of order’
Nottingham Forest were denied a Champions League place after losing at home against Chelsea on Sunday (25 May) – but the game was marred by a high-profile spat between the club and Sky Sports.
Sky decided to present coverage of the game from their London studio after pundit Gary Neville earned a stadium ban at the City Ground.
Neville’s ban came after he slammed the “scandalous” behaviour of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis – who appeared to confront Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch after their draw with Leicester earlier this month (11 May).
A late Leicester equaliser had severely dented Forest’s hopes of nabbing a top-five finish – but Marinakis and the club maintained that the clash came about due to concern over an abdominal injury to Taiwo Awoniyi, who later underwent surgery and was placed into an induced coma but has now recovered.
After receiving news of his ban, Neville said: “Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.”
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes The Tricky Trees made the right call.
Neville should have apologised to Marinakis, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Neville should have “picked up the phone and apologised” for his comments.
Forest will play Uefa Conference League football next term after sliding from third to seventh in the Premier League table.
Wyness claimed “Neville has got it completely wrong”.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 69 | 21 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 38 | 66 | 21 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 38 | 66 | 7 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 38 | 65 | 12 |
| 8 | Brighton | 38 | 61 | 7 |
He told Football Insider: “There’s been a lot of talk about how Sky and the broadcasters put so much money into the game and they should have the right to say who goes (to the games).”
“I actually disagree. I think what Neville said about Maranakis was out of order. Neville got it completely wrong about why (Maranakis) came onto the pitch.
“The club own the stadium, and they have a right to say who comes in and out.”
“But they will want a bigger say in who can commentate on games.
“I think (Neville) spoke too quickly. We used to see Alex Ferguson at Man United ban journalists from the ground all the time, so it’s not a new thing.
“I completely understand why Maranakis and Forest have done it. Neville should have picked up the phone, apologised, and perhaps it could have been resolved that way.”
Champions League failure sparks Gibbs-White concerns at Forest
Forest’s lack of Champions League football next season could result in a nervy summer for the club and its fans, with one star player already being linked with a move.
Football Insider revealed on Saturday (24 May) that Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing England international Morgan Gibbs-White, who is also on Man City’s wish list ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Sources have told Football Insider that Forest “face a battle” to retain Gibbs-White regardless of their qualification for the UEFA Conference League, with Arsenal set to compete with City for his signature.
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