Evangelos Marinakis: Nottingham Forest owner rejects drugs link

killerandflash

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43527262

Yet another dodgy owner...

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been charged with drug trafficking, according to reports in Greece.

A Greek prosecutor said on Friday the 50-year-old shipping magnate is facing "very serious charges".

Marinakis, who also owns Super League side Olympiakos, said he was "innocent" and "a victim of a plot"

moutuakilla

Saw this earlier. They've had a pretty bad run of wank owners

Covered End

It seems to me that owning a football club is an ideal way to launder money.

Foxycafc

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c77164p88kjo

More nonsense from Marinakis!

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has said Nottingham Forest have banned him from the City Ground for their final Premier League game of the season against Chelsea on Sunday.

The former Manchester United and England defender said he was informed by the broadcaster that Forest "would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator".

"I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage," the 50-year-old added on Instagram.
BBC Sport has contacted Nottingham Forest for comment.
Neville criticised Evangelos Marinakis on X after the Forest owner marched onto the pitch and spoke animatedly with manager Nuno Espirito Santo following the late goal by Leicester City in the 2-2 draw earlier this month.
"Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that," Neville wrote on X the same day.
Forest later denied Marinakis' exchange with Nuno was a "confrontation" and described subsequent reaction to the situation as "fake news".
The club said the incident was because of Marinakis' frustration that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play after an 88th-minute injury, which subsequently required urgent surgery.
"I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action," Neville said.
"Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it's symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club."
Seventh-placed Forest can qualify for next season's Champions League on Sunday if they beat Chelsea at the City Ground and other results go their way.
"Personally, I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision," Neville added.
"I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football."
The Premier League said accreditation was a club matter.

lordromford

This seems very wrong to me.
If owners are allowed to dictate to the media which journalists/commentators/pundits they will allow in, it allows them to threaten any critics with this action and potentially prevent negative comments, even when deserved.
The premier league passing the buck and saying “Not our problem” is typical too.
There should at least be thresholds for reasons to ban someone, and “being critical of the owner” shouldn’t be one of them.
This is not ok.