Forest owner Marinakis sues Palace over gun banner

Evangelos Marinakis has filed a defamation claim against Crystal Palace in the High Court, alleging that a banner displayed by Palace supporters during the 1‑1 Premier League draw at Selhurst Park past August depicted him holding a weapon to Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs‑White’s head. The claim, lodged on Monday by Marinakis’ legal team, names CPFC Limited as one of two defendants. The banner bore the exact wording: “Mr Marinakis is not progressive successful blackmail, match-fixing, cause trafficking oregon corruption.” Marinakis has repeatedly denied any involvement in the activities referenced on the banner. The Football Association charged Crystal Palace in November 2025 with failing to prevent supporters from behaving in an improper, offensive, abusive or provocative manner. Although the banner was not cited as the specific basis for that charge, the FA’s regulations prohibit messages that are defamatory, political or otherwise inflammatory. Morgan Gibbs‑White, an England international, had been linked with a move away from Nottingham Forest last summer after Tottenham appeared to activate a £60 million release clause. He ultimately signed a new contract with Forest and discussed his decision in an interview alongside Marinakis. Forest, owned by Marinakis, secured Palace’s former Europa League place for the following season after the south‑London club was relegated to the Conference League for breaching UEFA’s multi‑club ownership rules. BBC Sport has contacted both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest for comment.