The apology made by the Nottingham Forest owner for spitting in the referee's feet

Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-game ban (Image: Getty Images)

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis says he didn’t intentionally spit on the ground as referees walked past, but simply coughed because he was smoking a cigar.

Marinakis was handed a five-match stadium ban after being found guilty of disorderly conduct relating to the incident at the City Ground on September 28.

Forest were beaten 1-0 On that occasion, Fulham and the match officials accused the club owner of spitting on the ground as they walked past him in the tunnel after the game.

Referee Josh Smith told an independent regulatory commission: “As I walked down the tunnel at the end of the game, Mr Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, was standing on my left at the end of the tunnel.”

“As I walked past him, he spat on the ground next to my left foot. This was also seen by James Mainwaring and Tim Robinson.

Assistant referee Mr Mainwaring said: “He didn’t say anything but as we approached him and were close he spat on the ground as we approached him.”

The fourth official, Mr Robinson, added: “I then returned to continue monitoring the tunnel area and saw Mr Evangelos Marinakis spitting as the match officials walked past him.”

Liverpool FC vs Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League — Evangelos Marinakis has led Nottingham Forest back to the top flight (Image: Getty Images)

The club has now appealed against the Greek businessman’s five-match ban, claiming he merely coughed and accidentally released some fluid onto the floor near the referees.

His defense submitted to the independent panel said he “suffered from a violent cough on the day of the game” and “felt a cough that caused him to cough onto the ground”.

Marinakis smokes “two or three cigars a day” and “often has to spit and/or cough,” accepting that “mucus or saliva may have been produced, this was a result of the cough,” but if there was any, “it was “That’s definitely the case.” not aimed at them
The referee’s feet touched and didn’t hit anyone.

The independent commission did not accept Marinakis’ argument and wrote on Tuesday: “We are convinced that he deliberately spat on the ground as the referee walked past him.” We regret EM’s (Marinakis’) attempt to comment on his behavior to explain and justify is completely implausible.