Nottingham Forest spark ‘widespread alarm’ at Premier League over Gary Neville
Nottingham Forest’s unprecedented decision regarding Gary Neville has sparked “widespread alarm” within the Premier League and their broadcast partners.
The Tricky Trees were tipped as relegation candidates before the season began, but subverted expectations by rising as high as third at one point.
However, a run of two wins in their last seven games has seen the Midlands side slip down to seventh, and Nottingham Forest now look unlikely to qualify for the Champions League.
Tensions have risen at the City Ground, and after the Garibaldis drew with an already-relegated Leicester side, owner Evangelos Marinakis stormed onto the pitch to confront Santo.
Pundit and former Man United star Neville called for Santo to quit Forest, leading Forest to make a statement on X, condemning “fake news online”, as the exchange was said to be related to Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury.
The club then took the unprecedented step of banning the Sky Sports pundit from commentating Forest’s final game of the season against Chelsea, and according to MailOnline, this has caused widespread concern within the Premier League and Sky.
Fallout from Gary Neville’s City Ground ban begins to unfold
As reported, the Premier League and Sky will hold further “high-level” talks aimed at preventing a repeat of Nottingham Forest’s refusal to admit Gary Neville to Sunday’s season-defining clash with Chelsea.
Senior figures at the Premier League, Sky, and other broadcasters are “alarmed” at the controversial step taken by the Midlands club.
Forest denied access to Neville, citing a “potentially hostile welcome from fans” following what they view as “aggressive messaging” from the pundit, with intentions to hamper the club’s progress.
As a result, the Premier League and Sky have had discussions about the incident, with more talks set to follow immediately, and a rule change is a possibility.
Whilst Forest are well within their rights to decide who enters their property, their move is understood to have triggered “widespread alarm”.
Neville posted on Instagram on 24 May, calling the decision made by the club “disappointing” and “symptomatic” of things that have been happening at the club over the last year.
Premier League must take strong stance in backing Gary Neville
Football Insider Verdict
Marinakis has taken a rather dictatorial stance to his actions being criticised, which is hardly surprising given his track record.
But the Premier League must immediately find a solution to stop club owners from being given license to ban pundits or journalists from attending games if they say something that upsets them.
Neville can be a divisive character, which is why Sky love to place him at the heart of the action, but whilst his wailing reaction to late goals can be harsh on the ears, he is also one of the few pundits who tries to speak from a fans’ point of view.
Allowing billionaires to silence a dissenting voice takes away the personality of the game and sets the tone for further bans.
If the Premier League do not step in now, what’s to stop owners like Marinakis from not only banning pundits or journalists, but fans who voice their displeasure with his side?