Marinakis Explains His Pitch Invasion After Nottingham Forest’s Draw
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has justified his entry onto the pitch after the 2-2 draw against Leicester City. According to the club, Marinakis’ action was motivated by “deep frustration” at seeing striker Taiwo Awoniyi visibly affected by an injury.
The incident occurred after the match, in which Forest lost ground in the fight for Champions League qualification. Marinakis, visibly upset, addressed coach Nuno Espírito Santo.
The Forest manager explained that Marinakis’ frustration was due to Awoniyi’s situation, who hit the post in the final minutes of the match. The striker had to be attended to, but returned to the game showing signs of pain.
The club issued a statement on Tuesday explaining the actions of its owner.
His reaction was one of deep concern, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of us. He didn’t see it as just an isolated incident, but as something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
Nottingham Forest
The statement goes on to explain that Marinakis demonstrated his leadership through action and presence. Faced with Awoniyi’s pain, it was “instinctive and human” to enter the field.
The club also denied that there had been a confrontation with Nuno Espírito Santo or other team members. “The truth is that there was no confrontation, with Nuno or others, neither on the field nor inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration among all of us because the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”
