Gary Neville was barred from entering the City Ground and covering Nottingham Forest’s final-day meeting with Chelsea, after being critical of the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis.
Roy Keane has criticised his former club Nottingham Forest’s decision to exclude Gary Neville from covering their match against Chelsea. Forest denied Neville, 50, credentials in a controversial move that ex-teammate Keane described as’small-minded’.
The Manchester United icon was speaking after Sky Sports decided to broadcast Forest’s 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea from their London studio. Sky executives made the decision after Neville was barred from the City Ground for a social media post condemning Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ behaviour following their previous home game against Leicester City.
Marinakis ran onto the pitch after full-time to confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The Greeks were dissatisfied with their coaching and medical staff’s handling of Taiwo Awoniyi, who had sustained a late injury.
On X, Neville posted: “Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.”
Forest replied by banning Neville and issuing a statement condemning ‘false news online’ and warning against ‘baseless and ill-informed fury for the purposes of personal social media traction’. But Keane disagrees with his old club’s decision.
When assessing Forest’s late-season downturn, Keane described a number of moves as’small-minded’, including the decision to ban Neville. The former midfielder stated that Marinakis’ attempt to ‘manage’ things had backfired.
On Friday, Neville posted a statement on Instagram, saying: “I was called by Sky Sports earlier this week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest – Chelsea match.
“I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.
“I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action. Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.
“Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club. I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”
