Nottingham Forest hit out at ‘fake news’ over Marinakis-Nuno incident in update on Awoniyi injury

Nottingham Forest have dismissed reporting around an apparent confrontation between manager Nuno Espírito Santo and club owner Evangelos Marinakis as “fake news” in an update regarding striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

Forest secured European football for next season with a 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday, but Facundo Buonanotte’s equaliser for the relegated Foxes dealt Nuno’s side a major blow in the race for Champions League football.

The draw left Forest a point adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea, who 2-0 at Newcastle United, with two games to go. Forest host Chelsea at the City Ground on the final day of the season.

There was drama following Buonanotte’s leveller when striker Awoniyi collided with the base of the far post while trying to connect with Anthony Elanga’s cross from the right. His efforts were for nought as the flag then went up for offside against Elanga, with Awoniyi then receiving lengthy treatment before being allowed to continue. It was later revealed Awoinyi required emergency surgery on the injury.

At full-time, a furious Marinakis stormed onto the field and looked to exchange heated words with Nuno. However, in a statement, Forest insisted there was no confrontation between owner and manager, claiming any frustration from Marinakis was a result of the decision to allow Awoniyi to continue.

The statement read: “Nottingham Forest can confirm that Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City.

“The seriousness of his injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first. At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. 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. He didn’t just see it as an isolated incident, but as something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.

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— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 13, 2025

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

“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. We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.

“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence — over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion. In moments like these, the game must unite around those who put their bodies and minds on the line every week. That’s what real leadership looks like in our game.”

Forest travel to West Ham on Sunday. If Aston Villa beat Tottenham on Friday or if Chelsea beat Manchester United on the same evening and Forest lose to West Ham, Nuno’s side will be eliminated from Champions League contention.