Marinakis Sues Crystal Palace Over Defamatory Banner
Forest Green owner Evangelos Marinakis is suing Crystal Palace for a defamatory banner unfurled by their fans during a Premier League match last August. The banner read: 'Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.'
Marinakis' lawyers lodged the defamation claim in the High Court on Monday, with CPFC Limited listed as one of the two defendants. The Football Association had charged Palace with failing to ensure that supporters did not behave in an improper, offensive, abusive or provocative way in November 2025.
Forest Green had taken Palace's place in the Europa League last season after the south London club were relegated to the Conference League for breaking Uefa's multi-club ownership rules. England international Morgan Gibbs-White had come close to leaving Forest last summer after Tottenham appeared to trigger a £60m release clause.
But he signed a new contract to stay at Forest and spoke about his decision during an interview alongside Marinakis. Gibbs-White had been the subject of the defamatory banner, which was seen during a 1-1 Premier League draw between the two sides at Selhurst Park last August.
League standing: 6th in National League, 3 pts, 1W-0D-0L from 1 games, recent form W. Goals this season: 3 scored, 2 conceded (+1 goal difference). Next fixture: vs Wealdstone (away, 2027-02-16) (12th in the table).
