FA Takes Action Against Crystal Palace Over Fans Gun Banner Targeting Evangelos Marinakis

Incident Overview

The Football Association (FA) has initiated disciplinary action against Crystal Palace after fans unveiled a provocative banner featuring Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, which depicted him holding a gun to midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White’s head.

The controversial banner, displayed during a Premier League match that ended in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park in August, proclaimed:

Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.

Marinakis has repeatedly denied any allegations of misconduct regarding these serious claims.

Details of the Charge

Crystal Palace has been charged with failing to ensure that their supporters behaved in a manner that was not inappropriate, offensive, abusive, or provocative.

While the banner itself was not explicitly cited as the main reason for the charge, it raises significant concerns as it breaches established guidelines against disseminating defamatory, political, and offensive messages.

Background on Gibbs-White’s Situation

Gibbs-White was rumored to be on the verge of leaving Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window, following Tottenham’s attempt to activate a £60 million release clause in his contract. Ultimately, he opted to extend his stay at Forest and shared insights about his decision in a joint interview with Marinakis.

The match on August 24 marked the first encounter between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest since Palace’s relegation from the Europa League to the Conference League, a consequence of violating UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership. Nottingham Forest subsequently took their position in the competition.

Next Steps for Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace has until Tuesday to provide a response to the FA’s charge, as they navigate the implications of this incident.