Gary Neville rejected entry by Forest for final game as he is denied accreditation for Chelsea game tomorrow.
Gary Neville rejected entry to Nottingham Forest’s final game of season.
When Nottingham Forest plays Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville has been denied access to the City Ground. Neville was supposed to be a member of Sky’s commentary team as both teams try to qualify for the Champions League the following season, but Forest has refused to provide him media access. When contacted, the East Midlands club refused to comment.
The former Manchester United defender Neville said on Instagram: “I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match. I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.
“I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action. Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. While they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club. I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”
This season, Neville has been very critical of Forest and its owner, Evangelos Marinakis. He called it “scandalous” when Marinakis went onto the field and spoke with Nuno Espírito Santo, the head coach, during the recent draw with Leicester.
Neville’s social media post, which called on Nuno to leave the team, infuriated Marinakis, who had previously in the season threatened to sue Sky for the pundit’s remarks.