Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sues Crystal Palace over gun banner

Evangelos Marinakis is suing Crystal Palace over a controversial fan banner.

The Nottingham Forest owner lodged a defamation claim in the High Court on Monday with CPFC Limited among the two defendants named.

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It comes nearly a year after the banner was displayed which showed him holding a gun to Morgan Gibbs-White’s head.

This was unfurled by fans at Selhurst Park during a 1-1 Premier League draw between Palace and Forest last August.

The banner also had the sarcastic message which read: “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.”

Marinakis has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to these allegations.

Palace were later charged by the FA with failing to ensure that supporters did not behave in an improper, offensive, abusive or provocative way in November 2025.

They were alleged to have failed to ensure that supporters did not behave in an improper, offensive, abusive or provocative way, though the banner was named as the specific reason for the charge.

The message displayed referred to Forest talisman Gibbs-White’s high-profile transfer saga in the 2025 summer transfer window.

The England international had looked set to leave the City Ground after Tottenham appeared to trigger his £60m release clause.

But in a shock turnaround, Gibbs-White ultimately signed a new contract to stay at the club, and later spoke about his decision during an interview alongside Marinakis.

Tensions had been building between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, after the London side lost their place in last season’s Europa League for breaking UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

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Forest ended up taking their spot in the competition, with Palace demoted to the Conference League, which they went on to win.

Marinakis’ representatives have been approached for comment.

Nottingham Forest’s new season

It has been all change at the City Ground this summer with Oliver Glasner now at the helm.

The Austrian signed a three-year contract having left Palace at the end of last season.

He has inherited a Forest side which finished 16th in the Premier League last season, avoiding relegation by six points.

The East Midlands side also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League before losing to eventual winners Aston Villa.

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Glasner will be aiming to get Forest competing at the other end of the table, but will have to do so without Elliot Anderson.

The England midfielder completed a then British-record move to Manchester City in July.

Speaking to talkSPORT from their pre-season camp in Portugal, Glasner said: “It was decided that he will leave and I think that’s what we have to accept and we are not at the end of the food chain in football.

“Probably our best players will always have big offers and then it is when. And at the end if we decide that we sell a player there are always two reasons.

“So number one is you need the money due to financial reasons. That was not the case here at Nottingham.

“Or the second part is that you believe that you can strengthen your team, but that doesn’t mean just on this one position.

“I think it’s not possible to get a better player right now than Elliot Anderson was for Nottingham Forest, but maybe we can add one or two more players on other positions where we can get better as a team and that’s what we try to do.”

On his relationship with Marinakis, Glasner admitted his ambition made the job an attractive one.

He added: “It was one of the crucial parts, his ambition is that he wants to bring Nottingham Forest back where it has been step by step

“We have a very good relationship, we have a very honest relationship, that’s what I told him. 

“I never tell somebody what he wants to hear, I always tell him my honest opinion. I think that’s what everybody deserves and also Mr Marinakis.

“That doesn’t mean that we always have the same opinion and then we discuss.

“But so far we have a great relationship because we have one big goal together and that is improving Nottingham Forest and making step by step into the top half of the Premier League.”

Forest begin their season at home to Leeds on August 22.