Nottingham owner Marinakis banned by FA for ‘spitting’ offence after a successful arugment by the latter in a disciplinary hearing.
Nottingham owner Marinakis gets a ban by the FA for 5 games after the FA successfully argued that he spat at the officials of the game.
The incident took place at last month’s Premier League game at the City Ground that saw Forest lose 1-0 to Fulham.
An independent regulatory commission found Marinakis guilty of inappropriate conduct related to the incident, notwithstanding Marinakis’ denial of the charge.
After Josh Smith, the referee, gave Fulham a penalty on the recommendation of VAR John Brooks, the home team was incensed. Two Forest claims for their own spot-kicks were also rejected.
Marinakis purposefully spat on the ground as the referee passed him “in a disrespectful and disgusting display of contempt,” the FA acknowledged in its written reasons for the penalty, confirming the independent commission’s findings.
The Greek billionaire argued he was merely disposing of phlegm, caused by his cigar habit, and the incident was unintentional. His witness statement read: “As the officials approached he felt a cough coming and he coughed on the floor. Down and to his right which was away from the path the officials were taking. He did not speak to the officials.
“He cannot now remember if any spittle left his mouth. But if it did (and he does not challenge that some might well have done). It certainly wasn’t aiming at the referee’s feet and didn’t hit anybody. He fails to see how coughing (where spit or phlegm can come out from any person) towards the floor in a relatively crowded tunnel is misconduct.”
In his statement, the referee Smith said: “As I walked down the tunnel at the end of the match. Mr Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, stood on my left-hand side at the end of the tunnel. As I walked past him, he spat on the floor next to my left foot. ”
The assistant referee James Mainwaring adds: “At the top of the tunnel, on our left-hand side, Mr Marinakis stood. He did not say anything. But as we approached him and was close, he spat on the ground in front of us.”