Nottingham Forest have launched a blistering attack on ‘baseless, ill-informed outrage’ on social media after Gary Neville criticised owner Evangelos Marinakis for storming onto the pitch following the 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday.

Marinakis was spotted in what appeared to be heated exchange with manager Nuno Espirito Santo after the match but it is understood he was not remonstrating with the Forest boss. 

He was instead concerned for Taiwo Awoniyi and over whether the serious abdominal injury the Forest striker suffered – which Mail Sport has revealed could prove fatal in some cases – could have been handled better by the club’s medical team. 

‘Scandalous from that Forest owner,’ Neville posted on X. ‘Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.’

Jamie Carragher had described Marinakis as ’embarrassing’ and told him to ‘get off the pitch’ on Sky Sports’ coverage of Forest’s clash with Leicester. 

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis approached Nuno Espirito Santo on Sunday – but was not remonstrating with the Forest manager

And Forest appeared to hit back at Neville – and others who called out Marinakis for his actions – in a bombshell statement on Tuesday, which confirmed Awoniyi had suffered a ‘serious abdominal injury’.

Although it did not namecheck Neville himself, the statement referenced ‘fake news online’ and warned against ‘baseless and ill-informed outrage of the purposes of personal social media traction’.

‘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 – least of all the injured player,’ the club said.

‘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.’

Forest also insisted there had been no confrontation between Marinakis and the manager after the game, which dented the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

‘In the final ten minutes of the game, when he [Marinakis] saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines,’ the club added. 

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi underwent urgent abdominal surgery, after suffering an injury which, in some cases, can prove to be fatal

Awoniyi collided heavily with the post during the 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday

He required several minutes of treatment but played on despite being in visible discomfort

Marinakis voiced his concern with the medical staff’s handling of the injury

‘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.’

Awoniyi crashed into a post during their 2-2 draw with Leicester and, following several minutes of treatment, returned to action.

On Tuesday, Forest confirmed that the 27-year-old underwent urgent surgery after the extent of the injury was confirmed on Monday and he was rushed to hospital. It can now be disclosed that the injury was of a nature which, in some cases, can prove to be fatal.

Awoniyi, a Nigeria international, required around three minutes of treatment but could not be substituted after Forest used their last available switch to replace Elliot Anderson with Jota Silva.

He attempted to carry on, but was unable to move properly as Forest chased a winner which would have provided a major boost to their Champions League hopes.

Gary Neville sparked fury at Forest last year when he likened their actions to those of a ‘mafia gang’

Neville made the slur in response to Forest’s Tweet after the defeat by Everton in April 2024

The statement from Forest marks their latest public row with former Manchester United defender Neville.

Last year, Sky Sports were forced to apologise to Forest after Neville accused them of acting like a ‘mafia gang’.

After a 2-0 defeat by Everton in April 2024, 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 Marinakis later 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.

‘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.’