Evangelos Marinakis Initiates Defamation Lawsuit Against Crystal Palace

Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Crystal Palace following the display of a banner at Selhurst Park last season. The banner, which depicted Marinakis holding a gun to the head of player Morgan Gibbs-White, was shown in August after Gibbs-White's transfer to Tottenham fell through.

The banner also included unverified claims regarding Marinakis' business activities. Marinakis submitted his legal claim in the High Court last week, seeking accountability from Crystal Palace for the banner's display and their failure to remove it promptly.

In November, the FA investigated the incident, resulting in Crystal Palace being charged and fined £50,000. However, Marinakis believes this penalty does not adequately address the damage to his reputation and intends to pursue the matter further. Under FA regulations, clubs are responsible for the conduct of their fans, which includes preventing offensive displays.