‘Unprecedented’ – Gary Neville breaks silence after being BANNED from City Ground for Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea
GARY NEVILLE has unleashed a scathing attack on Nottingham Forest after being banned from the City Ground for Sunday’s clash with Chelsea.
Man Utd legend Neville, 50, has been denied accreditation for Sunday’s Champions League decider as his feud with Forest rages on.
It comes two weeks after Neville slammed Evangelos Marinakis’ ‘scandalous’ on-pitch row with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Taking to Instagram on Friday night, Neville said: “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.
“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.”
He continued: “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.”
Sky chiefs are furious and are standing with Neville following Forest’s decision, and have totally revised their coverage plans for the final game of the season.
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A spokesperson told SunSport: “Sky Sports was subsequently informed by Nottingham Forest that Gary Neville would be denied accreditation to the match.
“This was an unprecedented and unwelcome step.
“As a result, Sky Sports has decided to revise its production plans and has taken the decision to present the game from Sky Studios in west London.”
The ban comes two weeks after Neville labelled Marinakis’ heated discussion with Nuno “absolutely scandalous”.
While co-commentating on the game, Neville fumed: “What the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous.
“If I was Nuno, I’d be going and having a very strong word with him, because that is an absolute scandal.”
Marinakis claims he lost his temper over striker Taiwo Awoniyi being forced to play on while injured.
I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.
Gary Neville
Awoniyi collided with a post late in the draw with Leicester and was later placed in an induced coma.
Forest later addressed the incident in a statement, writing on X: “Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion.
“With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game.
“We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.
“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game.
“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming.”