Evangelos Marinakis sues Crystal Palace over offensive banner

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has initiated legal proceedings against Crystal Palace in the High Court following an incident at Selhurst Park on August 24, 2025. During a match between the two teams, Crystal Palace fans displayed a banner depicting Marinakis holding a weapon alongside an offensive message regarding the failed transfer of Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham earlier that summer. The legal action marks a formal escalation in the dispute between the two clubs.

This incident follows prior disciplinary action by the English Football Association (FA). In February 2026, the FA fined Crystal Palace £50,000 for failing to prevent supporters from engaging in improper, offensive, or abusive behavior during the match. While the club was penalized for general misconduct at the time, the specific nature of the banner has now led to personal litigation by the Nottingham Forest owner. Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, ultimately went on to win the Conference League, while Nottingham Forest reached the semi-finals of the Europa League during the same 2025-26 season.