In a dramatic post-match scene, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis allegedly had to be removed by security after chasing referee Paul Tierney down the tunnel. The incident unfolded immediately after Forest’s contentious 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, marked by a 99th-minute goal from Darwin Nunez.
Eyewitnesses, including BBC 5 Live reporter Rob Schofield, described the heated confrontation. Schofield stated, “Marinakis had to be removed by security. They were yelling at them, ‘Respect the players, respect the players. This happens every week. Respect the players.”
Forest, however, maintained that Marinakis was calm, and security intervention was unnecessary. The confrontation stemmed from Tierney handing the ball to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, halting play over a head injury to Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, despite Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi being in possession.
The Premier League clash at the City Ground seemed destined for a goalless draw until Nunez’s late goal. Furious Forest fans voiced their discontent, chanting “cheat” at Tierney.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his frustration after the match but refrained from commenting on the referee. However, the club’s ref advisor, Mark Clattenburg, acknowledged the owner’s upset, citing another decision against the club. Clattenburg highlighted that Forest should have regained possession, emphasizing the importance of following the laws of the game.
“The law is clear that if the ball is outside the area, you get possession back. Everything seems to be going against Forest,” Clattenburg stated, adding that decisions have been acknowledged as mistakes by the PGMOL.
The PGMOL confirmed Tierney’s error, further fueling the frustration for Nottingham Forest. The club, currently in 17th place, just four points above the relegation zone, may face additional challenges with potential points deductions over financial issues.
Marinakis, a Greek shipping magnate worth £2.5 billion, is expected to file a complaint with the PGMOL regarding the controversial decisions in the Liverpool match. The defeat has intensified Forest’s battle to relegation from the league.
