Nottingham Forest sealed a long-awaited return to European football after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City, their first qualification in 29 years. But the celebration at the City Ground was marred by a dramatic post-match outburst from owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Tensions boiled over at full-time as Marinakis stormed the pitch and confronted manager Nuno Espirito Santo in front of players, fans, and cameras. The heated exchange came after a missed opportunity — a win would have lifted Forest into Champions League contention.
Frustration centered on the late substitution of Taiwo Awoniyi, who entered in the 83rd minute only to suffer an injury minutes later. With no further breaks in play, Forest were forced to finish the match effectively a man down.
Nuno later explained that the coaching staff received indications Awoniyi was fit to continue, prompting the substitution. The inability to react swiftly left the team exposed, amplifying Marinakis’ anger.
Though Nuno attempted to downplay the owner’s public display, saying emotions often run high in football, pundits reacted sharply. Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville condemned the confrontation, arguing it disrespected both the team’s achievement and the manager’s leadership.
While the clash raised eyebrows across the football world, the spotlight remains on Forest’s accomplishment—a return to European competition that had eluded them for nearly three decades.