In the high-stakes world of Premier League football, tensions aren’t just confined to the pitch.
Nottingham Forest has made headlines—not for their play, but for a bold move off the field.
With a pivotal game against Chelsea looming, the club has told Sky Sports they don’t want Gary Neville anywhere near The City Ground.
That’s right. The former Manchester United star turned TV pundit has effectively been banned from Forest’s home turf.
And the reason? The club believes Neville’s recent commentary and social media remarks have crossed a line.
Club Claims Neville Crossed the Line with Harsh Criticism
Forest’s frustration stems from a series of online posts and podcast remarks that they say were not only overly critical but also felt personal.
They believe Neville has a bias against the club, and they’re not shy about saying so.
One comment in particular—where Neville slammed owner Evangelos Marinakis for stepping onto the pitch after a 2-2 draw with Leicester—really lit the fuse.
“Scandalous from that Forest owner,” Neville posted.
“Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him!”
Needless to say, Forest didn’t take kindly to that.
And they fired back with a fiery statement that didn’t name Neville directly, but accused unnamed critics of spreading “fake news online” and stirring up “baseless and ill-informed outrage” just to gain attention.
A Season-Defining Match, but One Not Everyone’s Invited To
The timing of this controversy couldn’t be more critical.
Forest are in a make-or-break moment of their season, fighting Chelsea for a spot in European competition.
With so much on the line, the club isn’t taking any chances—especially when it comes to the atmosphere at their stadium.
The Premier League won’t intervene either.
It turns out, clubs have the right to decide who gets access to their facilities. So if Forest says no to Neville, that’s that.
Sky Sports Responds and Makes a Backup Plan
Sky called Forest’s decision “unprecedented and unwelcome,” but they’ve decided to adapt.
Instead of presenting live from the stadium, the broadcaster will shift production back to their west London headquarters.
Interestingly, Neville himself opted to step away from the coverage entirely, with Sky backing him up.
There will still be a commentary team at The City Ground, just not led by their usual face.
Injury Concerns, Not Confrontation, Says Forest
One of the key issues Neville pointed to was Marinakis’s presence on the pitch—implying it was confrontational. But Forest say it was quite the opposite.
According to the club, the owner wasn’t scolding manager Nuno Espírito Santo after the draw with Leicester—he was worried about striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who had sustained a serious abdominal injury.
Forest say it wasn’t clear if the medical team had responded appropriately, and Marinakis simply wanted answers.
They emphasized this point strongly: “We urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement… especially when they do not have the full facts.”
This Isn’t the First Clash Between Forest and Neville
It turns out this isn’t the first time Forest and Gary Neville have butted heads.
Just last year, after a 2-0 loss to Everton, the club accused officials of robbing them of three penalties and posted a scathing statement online.
Neville didn’t hold back either—likening their response to that of a “mafia gang.”
That comment didn’t sit well with Forest, and Marinakis later confirmed that his legal team contacted Sky about the issue.
Sky eventually issued an apology and said they spoke with Neville about his language, agreeing it wouldn’t be repeated.
What’s Next in the Neville-Forest Saga?
While Neville may be staying away this weekend, the tension between him and Nottingham Forest isn’t going anywhere.
The ongoing friction highlights how modern football isn’t just shaped by players and managers—but also by the powerful voices in the media.
For now, Forest is focused on the pitch. But off it, they’ve made one thing very clear: they won’t stay silent when they feel disrespected.