Nottingham Forest owner BANNED

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was given a five-match stadium ban for spitting on the floor as match officials walked past in the tunnel, an independent regulatory commission has said

Marinakis was found guilty of improper conduct for the incident following Forest’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Fulham at the City Ground on 28 September.

In publishing its written reasons behind the decision, the commission said there was “no excuse” for such an “an egregious display of disrespectful behaviour” that could “fuel disrespect towards match officials”.

A separate commission’s written reasons said Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White were punished for swearing at match officials following the 2-2 draw at Brighton on 22 September.

Nuno was given a three-match touchline ban after he was shown a red card, while Gibbs-White was given a one-match ban for his reaction to being sent off.

The commission accepted their admissions of guilt and genuine remorse as mitigation, but said Nuno’s previous disciplinary charges counted against him.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, who was also sent off in the aftermath of the incident, received a £8,000 fine but avoided a touchline ban.

The spitting incident occurred after Forest’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end following a VAR-awarded penalty to Fulham.