A match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest isn’t usually the kind of Premier League fixture that would put the Metropolitan Police on high alert. But after a summer of bitter disputes—both at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and on social media—over UEFA’s decision to demote Palace from the Europa League to the Conference League, a move that benefited Forest, tensions are running high. Supporters of both clubs are preparing for a charged encounter when they meet on Sunday afternoon.
“Forest aren’t our rivals—they mean nothing to us,” says Crystal Palace fan Chris Waters. “But suddenly this match has a real edge to it.” Sanad Attia, known as Wolfie, who hosts the Forest Fan TV YouTube channel, adds: “We’ve never had any issue with Palace—I was actually happy for them when they won the FA Cup. But they’ve been pointing fingers at everyone but themselves, especially Forest and Evangelos Marinakis.”
It’s unclear whether Marinakis, the Greek billionaire owner of Forest, will attend the match at Selhurst Park. Palace chairman Steve Parish accused Forest of playing a key role in their demotion, after the Midlands club raised concerns with UEFA in June about Palace potentially violating multi-club ownership rules. If Marinakis does travel to south London, he is expected to bring his own security, though Palace insist he is welcome in the boardroom.
“I’d love to be a fly on the wall in that boardroom if he shows up,” says Waters. “He shouldn’t avoid watching his team, but he should expect a hostile reception. In effect, he played a major part in taking away our chance to compete in a top European competition. I’m not underestimating Forest, but isn’t this about smaller clubs standing up to the establishment? It feels like a betrayal.”
Forest see things differently. They point out that John Textor, then a part-owner of Palace, was found by UEFA to have “decisive influence” at the club while also holding a majority stake in Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League. Unlike Marinakis, Textor missed the March 1 deadline to place his shares in a blind trust and has since sold his stake to Woody Johnson.
Earlier this month, both clubs sent legal teams to Palace’s appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The court ruled against Palace, dismissing their claim that they were treated unfairly compared to Forest and Lyon. “What’s fascinating to me,” says Attia, “is that Palace fans seem to be letting Steve Parish off the hook. Yes, we benefited from their mistake, but any Premier League owner would do what’s best for their club.”
Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo revealed this week that he expressed sympathy to his Palace counterpart, Oliver Glasner, in a recent conversation, though he also admitted on Friday that his relationship with Marinakis has deteriorated since their on-pitch disagreement after May’s draw with Leicester. “The narrative being built isn’t true—we aren’t to blame,” Nuno told BBC Nottingham. “We feel for Palace’s fans, and especially for their players and staff, including Oliver—I told him that. But please, don’t make Forest out to be the villains, because we’re not.”
Forest stand to make up to £20 million from their promotion to the Europa League. This week, Marinakis responded to his manager’s request for new signings by bringing in four players: James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, and Arnaud Kalimuendo on permanent deals for around £90 million, along with Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus.In contrast, Glasner has been frustrated by Palace’s lack of activity in the transfer market; they have spent the least of any club in Europe’s top five leagues. They also agreed to sell Eberechi Eze to Arsenal just before the first leg of their Conference League playoff against Fredrikstad.
Nonetheless, he seemed understanding toward Forest when asked if there would be extra tension in the upcoming game. “Yes, there could be,” he said. “But you have to remember, Forest didn’t make the decision—it was made by UEFA and then CAS. I still think it’s unfair because it goes against the sense of justice we live by in today’s world. This has nothing to do with Nottingham. They’re very ambitious, and when you finish seventh [last season] and add all these players, that’s the challenge we have to face.”
That is unlikely to ease tensions among the fans, however. During the Conference League match against Fredrikstad on Thursday night, Palace supporters group the Holmesdale Fanatics added a new line to their current favorite chant, which calls Marinakis a “fat greedy bastard” and also targets UEFA and Textor. At Forest’s win over Brentford last weekend, a new song echoed around the City Ground, referencing their owner’s summer battle with Tottenham to keep Morgan Gibbs-White: “Marinakis, he hates the Tottenham, he hates the Palace, Forest are magic…”
“We disagree on a lot of things, but one thing we all agree on is what Marinakis has done for this club,” says Attia. “He promised us when we got promoted, ‘We’re here to rewrite the proud history that Forest have had.’ And he’s proving to be a man of his word.”
Adding more spice to Sunday’s match, Palace have gone nine games without a win against Forest in all competitions, a streak dating back to 2011. Whatever the outcome, Waters expects the bitterness to remain. “Palace fans don’t forget things like this,” he says.
“Obviously, we’ll be watching their European results closely. It’s just a shame it has come to this—football should stay out of the courtrooms, but two clubs have been dragged into it, largely at the insistence of one of them. We suffered as a result, and that hurts.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the tense meeting following Crystal Palaces European clash with Nottingham Forest
Beginner General Questions
Q What is this tense meeting about
A Its about a review of the recent very heated European match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest The clubs officials are meeting to discuss the fallout which likely includes onfield incidents player behavior and the overall conduct of the match
Q Who is involved in this meeting
A Key figures from both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest football clubs such as managers club directors and possibly representatives from the leagues governing body
Q Why is the meeting considered tense
A Because the original match was heated meaning it probably involved arguments red cards controversial referee decisions or poor sportsmanship This meeting is to address those issues which can lead to disagreements and friction between the clubs
Q What could be the outcome of this meeting
A Possible outcomes include official apologies fines for the clubs or players suspensions for involved players or an agreement on future conduct In serious cases it could escalate to a formal hearing with the league
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q What specific incidents from the match likely triggered this meeting
A While the exact incidents arent specified common triggers for such meetings include mass confrontations between players allegations of violent conduct disrespect towards match officials or accusations of unsporting behavior from the coaching staff
Q What is the typical protocol for a postmatch disciplinary meeting like this
A The clubs will review video footage of the incidents Each side will present their perspective The league representatives will then assess the evidence against the rules and decide on any appropriate sanctions such as fines or suspensions
Q Could this meeting affect the teams performance in their next games
A Yes potentially If key players receive suspensions from this meeting they will be unavailable for selection in upcoming matches which could weaken the team It can also be a distraction for the players and managers
Q Are these types of meetings common after heated derbies or European clashes
