The Football Association (FA) has charged Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis with misconduct.
The charge relates to the Greek businessman’s behaviour following his side’s 1-0 home defeat to Fulham on September 28.
The FA alleges that Marinakis acted in an “improper” manner around the City Ground tunnel at full time as Forest surrendered their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Forest were unhappy with referee Josh Smith’s decision to award Fulham a 51st-minute penalty from which Raul Jimenez scored what proved to be the winning goal. The hosts also had two appeals for spot kicks of their own turned down.
Marinakis, who also owns Greek club Olympiacos, has until October 7 to provide a response.
The FA has asked Forest to provide their observations and the Premier League club are likely to dispute the charge when they do.
In line with FA procedure, written reasons in relation to the case will be published at its conclusion.
Last season, Forest were docked four points for breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules, but Marinakis said “unfair decisions” by referees had also hampered their campaign.
He told the BBC in May: “Referee decisions have cost us points and this is something that has been repeated and repeated and what we expect for the Premier League and referees is to correct these mistakes.”
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are 10th in the table having taken nine points from their opening six games. They return to action against at Chelsea on Sunday.
(Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
