Forest say Marinakis 'confrontation' is 'fake news'

Nottingham Forest have denied that owner Evangelos Mariniakis' exchange with manager Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch on Sunday was a "confrontation".

And the East Midlands club described subsequent reaction to the situation as "fake news".

An animated Marinakis exchanged words with Nuno after Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester.

Forest said the incident was because of Marinakis' frustration that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play after an 88th-minute injury which subsequently saw him have 'urgent' surgery on Monday night.

The club added Marinakis' actions were because of his "deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment," in the player and the club.

"The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium," the club added.

"There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.

"We urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context."

Forest said Awoniyi is "recovering well" after surgery on an abdominal injury.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the draw at the City Ground as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

He received treatment on the pitch and continued playing, with Forest having used their three substitution windows, but was visibly struggling when the match restarted.

Forest said Marinakis' decision to go on to the pitch was "instinctive" and "human", showing "just how much this team and its people mean to him".

"To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn't just a football club - it's family - and he instils that message in all of us," Forest said.

"In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence.

"In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines."

Speaking on Sky Sports following the match, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville described Marinakis' actions as an "absolute joke" and "scandalous".

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC Sport's Match Of The Day 2 it was "not a great look" for Marinakis.

In their statement on Tuesday, Forest called some of the coverage of the incident "baseless and ill-informed outrage" for the "purposes of personal social media traction".

The club added: "At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence - over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion.

"We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary."