Nottingham Forest have moved to quash speculation surrounding an incident involving club owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo following their 2-2 draw against Leicester City in the Premier League last weekend.

After the final whistle at the City Ground, Marinakis was seen in what looked like a tense discussion with Nuno on the pitch.

The moment, captured on camera, sparked widespread debate, with critics suggesting a possible rift between the club’s hierarchy and the head coach amid a blow to Forest’s Champions League hopes.

However, the club has now clarified that Marinakis’ emotional response stemmed from concern over striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who sustained a severe abdominal injury late in the match after crashing into the goalpost.

Despite receiving the go-ahead from the club’s medical team to continue, Awoniyi was clearly struggling to move and has since undergone emergency surgery.

Forest released a detailed statement on Tuesday addressing the issue and defending their owner’s actions, framing them as those of a deeply invested leader rather than a figure of confrontation.

“At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner,” the club said.

“To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club – it’s family – and he instils that message in all of us.

“That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation that unfolded at the City Ground on Sunday.

“His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own.

“In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence.”

According to Forest, Marinakis found it unbearable to witness Awoniyi, in visible agony, continue playing in the final moments of the match.

His reaction to the situation was described by the club as spontaneous and heartfelt.

“In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.

“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain – something no one with genuine care could ignore – triggered him to go onto the pitch.

“It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him.

He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.”

While public commentators such as Gary Neville criticized the incident—Neville even suggested that Nuno should have walked away from his role that evening—Forest refuted such narratives, insisting there was no animosity involved.

“The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium.

“There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.

“In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context.

“Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one – least of all the injured player.”

The club now hopes the focus will return to Awoniyi’s recovery and the team’s final push in the Premier League, rather than off-pitch speculation.

ROAMAN NEWS

Everton FC has confirmed that its historic Goodison Park stadium will serve as the new home ground for the club’s women’s team starting next season, following the men’s squad’s relocation to their newly built stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

As the men’s team prepares for an emotional final match at Goodison against Southampton this Sunday, the club has decided not to dismantle the iconic venue.

Instead, the 132-year-old ground will be repurposed to house the Women’s Super League side, marking a significant step in support of the women’s game.

Currently, Everton Women play their fixtures at Walton Hall Park, but the transition to Goodison—boasting a 39,572-seat capacity—will make it the largest stadium in England dedicated solely to women’s football.

Captain Megan Finnigan shared her excitement about the move, calling it a landmark moment for the sport.

“This move is a testament to where the women’s game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading,” she said.

“Goodison is a magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.”

Average home attendance for Everton’s women this season hovered around 2,062—slightly below Walton Hall Park’s capacity—signaling room for growth that the new venue could help facilitate.

Originally, Goodison Park was slated for a full-scale redevelopment including housing, retail spaces, a care facility, and green areas.

These plans were drawn up by the club’s former owners during the early stages of building the 53,000-capacity waterfront stadium.

However, with the club’s acquisition by The Friedkin Group in December, priorities shifted.

The new leadership chose to preserve the stadium’s legacy by integrating it into Everton’s long-term vision for both women’s and youth football.

Club CEO Angus Kinnear emphasized the importance of honoring Goodison’s place in football history.

“We know how treasured Goodison is, not only to every Evertonian but to the game itself, and being able to keep such an iconic stadium at the heart of the legacy project is something that has been incredibly important to us,” he said.

In addition to hosting women’s matches, Goodison Park will also accommodate youth academy fixtures, further embedding the stadium into the club’s future development.

“The women’s game has grown significantly in recent years and we believe that growth will continue and accelerate,” Kinnear added.

“We’re under no illusions, there are obstacles we need to overcome to make this a success both practically and economically, but we’re confident that we will overcome those challenges.”

With the move, Everton joins a growing list of clubs investing in infrastructure to support the women’s game, while ensuring that one of English football’s most iconic venues continues to play a central role in the sport’s evolving narrative.

ROAMAN NEWS