Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, has officially filed a defamation claim at the High Court against Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC Ltd) and “persons unknown.” The lawsuit stems from an incident nearly a year ago during a 1-1 draw between the two clubs at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace supporters unfurled a banner featuring an image of Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Legal representatives for Marinakis argue that the banner was defamatory. The image, which appeared midway through the first half of the match, caused significant controversy at the time. While the lawsuit names the club as a defendant, it also includes “persons unknown,” likely to account for the specific individuals responsible for creating or displaying the banner. As of now, Crystal Palace has not issued a public statement regarding the specific legal filing. The case highlights the ongoing tensions regarding fan conduct and the limits of supporter expression within English football stadiums. The court will now determine whether the club can be held legally responsible for the actions of its fans in this context.