Crystal Palace Sued Over Gun Banner
Crystal Palace is facing a defamation claim from Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over a gun banner displayed by supporters during a Premier League match. The banner depicted Marinakis holding a gun to Morgan Gibbs-White's head.
What Happened?
Lawyers for Marinakis filed the claim for defamation at the High Court on Monday. The claim is against CPFC Limited, the commercial entity of Crystal Palace, and 'Persons Unknown'.
Why It Matters for Crystal Palace
The incident occurred almost a year ago, during the 1-1 draw between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on August 24, 2025. The banner read: 'Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.'
What Comes Next?
Crystal Palace were charged by the Football Association with misconduct in November over the banner. They were fined £50,000 in February, with the ruling noting: 'The fact that Crystal Palace had a policy to prevent banners being smuggled into the stadium demonstrates that it was aware of the risk.'
Crystal Palace are currently 15th in the Premier League, with 45 points from 38 games, and a goal difference of -10. They are 40 points behind leaders Arsenal and have lost their last two matches. Their next fixture is against Ipswich at home on September 12, 2026.
