The FA has charged Crystal Palace with misconduct for a controversial fan banner featuring Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and player Morgan Gibbs-White, stemming from a dispute over multi-club ownership rules and a transfer.
According to Daily Mail reporting, Crystal Palace has been formally charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) following the display of a provocative banner by supporters during the Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest in August.
Crystal Palace have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) after fans held up a huge banner about Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis before their Premier League meeting in August.
The banner, unveiled by fans in the Holmesdale End at Selhurst Park during the 1-1 draw on Sunday, August 24, has been deemed “improper” by the governing body.
The display, which fuelled an already white-hot atmosphere, showed a graphic image depicting Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.
The banner also included a sarcastic denial of serious, unproven allegations about the Forest owner’s business career, stating: “Mr. Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption!”
The banner referenced a series of serious unsubstantiated allegations against Marinakis, who denies any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.
Tensions between the two clubs had reached a peak over the summer after Palace, despite winning the FA Cup, were demoted to the Europa Conference League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules concerning former co-owner John Textor’s stake in Lyon.
Nottingham Forest ultimately benefited, taking Palace’s place in the higher-tier Europa League. Marinakis had reportedly written to UEFA to raise concerns about the Eagles’ ownership structure, which Palace fans believe contributed to their demotion.
The FA confirmed the charge in a statement: “Crystal Palace FC has been charged with misconduct in relation to its Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest FC on Sunday 24 August.
It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) didn’t behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way during the fixture.
Crystal Palace FC has until Tuesday 11 November to provide a response.”