Nottingham Forest has received an apology from Sky Sports following controversial remarks made by Gary Neville after their match against Everton on April 21.
In the aftermath of a 2-0 loss, during which Forest believed they were unjustly denied three penalties, the club released a scathing statement questioning the appointment of Stuart Attwell as the VAR official.
Neville, a prominent pundit, drew parallels between Forest’s actions and those of a “mafia gang.” This prompted Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to affirm that his legal team had been in communication with Sky Sports regarding Neville’s comments, indicating that the matter was not yet resolved.
Marinakis expressed: “The comments and words he used were inappropriate, didn’t correspond with reality, and harmed people.”
On July 5, Sky Sports issued an official statement acknowledging the issue: “Sky Sports has discussed with Gary the language used and its potential to cause offense. Gary has agreed not to use the same or similar terms in future coverage. Sky Sports apologizes to Nottingham Forest for any offense caused by this language.”
Looking ahead, Nottingham Forest is gearing up for their third consecutive season in the top flight, hoping for a less turbulent campaign compared to the dramatic events of the previous year, which included a dispute with Attwell and a four-point deduction for breaching spending rules.
Despite these challenges, the club successfully avoided relegation under the leadership of Nuno Espirito Santo, who took over from Steve Cooper in December.
The recent sales of Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate to Lyon have alleviated financial concerns related to profitability and sustainability regulations, and the club has since invested in attacking talent Elliot Anderson from Newcastle for £35 million.
Gary Neville likened Nottingham Forest’s actions to those of a ‘mafia gang’ after their match against Everton on April 21
Forest openly questioned the appointment of referee Stuart Attwell to one of their matches
Neville labeled their statement following the Everton defeat akin to that of a ‘mafia gang’
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis confirmed his legal team had been in touch with Sky Sports over Neville’s remarks