Nottingham Forest have banned Gary Neville from their final game of the season at home to Chelsea, and Sky Sports have responded by backing their pundit
Gary Neville has been banned by Nottingham Forest, with Sky Sports deciding to pull their presenting team from the City Ground as a result.
Sky pundit Neville was told his accreditation to cover Sunday’s game as a co-commentator had been denied.
It follows Neville’s outspoken attack on Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis after the Greek businessman stormed onto the pitch to confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo after their draw with Leicester earlier this month.
Neville described it as “absolutely scandalous” and later posted on social media: “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.”
That has led to an escalation of the row between the pair but Forest have now banned Manchester United legend Neville from the City Ground.
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Sky have described it as an “unprecedented and unwelcome step” and it is a move against a broadcaster which pays millions for TV rights and is also in direct contrast to freedom of speech.
Sky opted to show the final day showdown between Forest and Chelsea as their main game on Sunday as it has become a shoot-out for Champions League football.
It was then that Forest informed them that Neville was not welcome and Sky have now backed their man to the hilt by deciding to broadcast from Sky’s studios in West London.
Neville, who is TV’s most recognisable and arguably best pundit, has chosen not to be part of the coverage which is a decision fully supported by Sky.
Sky will continue to have a full commentary team at the game but it will not feature Neville and the presentation will be done remotely whereas normally they have a live studio within stadiums.
Marinakis claimed he went onto the pitch out of concern for Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi – who suffered a serious injury and was put into an induced coma – rather than confront Nuno.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Neville was named in a £2.1m libel case brought by Marinakis against Irini Karipidis and Ari Harow.
Karipidis is the owner of Greek club Aris, who are rivals to Olympiacos, also owned by Marinakis, while Harow is a former chief of staff to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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