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The Football Association has charged Crystal Palace with misconduct following the display of a controversial banner aimed at Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis during a Premier League match earlier this season.
The incident took place on August 24 at Selhurst Park during Palace’s 1–1 draw with Forest, when supporters unfurled a banner making unverified claims about Marinakis’s business dealings. The banner depicted Marinakis holding a gun to Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White’s head and included the message: “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.”
“It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters ... didn’t behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way,” the Football Association said in a statement.
The FA did not explicitly name the banner as the cause of the charge but noted that clubs are responsible for ensuring fans comply with regulations prohibiting defamatory, political, or offensive messages inside stadiums.
Marinakis has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to allegations referenced on the banner.
The controversy came amid tensions between the two clubs after Crystal Palace were relegated to the Europa Conference League for breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, a development that saw Forest promoted to the Europa League. Some Palace supporters have accused Marinakis of playing a role in prompting UEFA’s investigation.
The August fixture also followed a summer of transfer speculation around Gibbs-White, who was linked with a £60 million move to Tottenham before signing a new deal to remain at Forest. He later appeared in an interview alongside Marinakis to discuss his decision to stay.
Crystal Palace have until Tuesday to respond to the FA’s charge.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @officialnffc
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