- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: How Gareth Southgate compares to Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann
- Gary Neville had called for Mark Clattenburg to resign from his role at Forest
- Evangelos Marinakis confirmed his lawyers had been in contact with Sky Sports
Nottingham Forest have received an apology from Sky Sports over language used by Gary Neville following their match at Everton on April 21.
After a 2-0 defeat in which Forest believed they were denied three penalties, the club posted an explosive statement on X, questioning the appointment of Stuart Attwell as VAR.
Neville likened Forest’s actions to those of a ‘mafia gang’, with club owner Evangelos Marinakis confirming to Mail Sport that his lawyers had ‘been in contact with Sky regarding Neville and this is not over yet.
‘The comments and words he used were inappropriate, didn’t correspond with reality and harmed people.’
A statement posted on Sky Sports’ website on July 5 read: ‘In response to a Nottingham Forest statement outlining their grievances with PGMOL following their match with Everton on 21 April Gary Neville, commenting on Super Sunday, strongly criticised Nottingham Forest’s approach.
Gary Neville likened Nottingham Forest’s actions to those of a ‘mafia gang’ following their match at Everton on April 21
Forest openly questioned the appointment of referee Stuart Attwell to one of their matches
Neville labelled their statement following the defeat by Everton like that of a ‘mafia gang’
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis confirmed to Mail Sport that his lawyers had been in contact with Sky Sports regarding Neville’s comments
‘Sky Sports have discussed with Gary the language used and its potential to cause offence.
‘Gary has agreed not to use the same or similar terms in future coverage. Sky Sports apologises to Nottingham Forest for any offence caused by this language.’
Forest are preparing for their third straight season of top-flight football and will hope for a calmer campaign after the tumultuous events of 2023-24.
As well as the row with Attwell, Forest were also docked four points for breaking spending rules, but nevertheless still managed to survive under Nuno Espirito Santo, who replaced Steve Cooper in December.
The sales of Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate to Lyon in June eased Forest’s fears meeting profitability and sustainability regulations, and they have since paid Newcastle £35million for attacker Elliot Anderson.