Roy Keane labels Nottingham Forest ‘small-minded’ as he slams Gary Neville ban

Gary Neville was banned from entering the City Ground and covering Nottingham Forest’s final-day clash with Chelsea, having been critical of the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis

Roy Keane has criticised former club Nottingham Forest’s decision to ban Gary Neville from covering their match against Chelsea. Neville, 50, was denied accreditation by Forest in a controversial move which ex-team-mate Keane has labelled ‘small-minded’.

The Manchester United legend was speaking after Sky Sports chose to broadcast coverage of Forest’s 2-0 loss at home to Chelsea from their London studio. Sky chiefs made the decision after Neville was banned from the City Ground over a social media post criticising Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ behaviour following their previous home game against Leicester.

Marinakis had stormed onto the pitch after full-time to remonstrate with manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The Greek was unhappy with with their coaching and medical staff’s treatment of Taiwo Awoniyi, who’d suffered 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 responded by banning Neville, having also released a statement slamming ‘fake news online’ and warned against ‘baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction’. But Keane doesn’t agree with his former club’s decision.

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Assessing Forest’s late-season slump, Keane described a number of decisions as ‘small-minded’, including their move to ban Neville. The ex-midfielder suggested that Marinakis’ attempt to ‘control’ things hadn’t worked in their favour.

On Friday, Neville released a statement via Instagram, posting: “I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v 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.

Were Nottingham Forest right to ban Gary Neville? Have your say in the comments section.

“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.”

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