Forest owner banned for spitting towards official
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.
The spitting incident occurred after Forest's unbeaten start to the season came to an end following a VAR-awarded penalty to Fulham.
Referee Josh Smith, assistant referee James Mainwaring and fourth official Tim Robinson submitted written statements saying they saw Marinakis spitting on the floor in their direction as they made their way to the dressing room.
In his defence, Marinakis claimed that he had a hacking cough because he smokes two or three cigars a day and the incident was unintentional.
The commission rejected this defence, pointing to the fact none of the officials' statements mentioned coughing and CCTV footage of the tunnel backed up that assertion.
It said it believed Marinakis "deliberately spat in a disrespectful and disgusting display of contempt towards the match officials".
It concluded this was a case of serious misconduct that warranted a severe punishment to act as a deterrent.
Marinakis argued a ban from the tunnel and dressing room areas would suffice, but the commission disagreed given he is not required in those areas after games.