Forest proprietor Marinakis surrenders command over the football club.
In a surprising yet strategic move, Nottingham Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, has handed the reins of his Premier League club to shake off potential complications in their chase for the Champions League. This decision comes as Marinakis wants to stay clear of UEFA rules that prohibit an individual from controlling two teams in the same European competition.
To avoid getting into hot water, Marinakis has stashed his shares for Forest in a blind trust. This move ensures he steers clear of rules that could scuttle Forest's journey towards the Champions League qualification.
As the season winds down, Forest could find themselves back in the Premier League's top five with just four games remaining. Their match against Brentford on Thursday promises to be a nail-biter, with the team on the verge of making a comeback to the top tier of English football. Meanwhile, Olympiacos has already secured the 48th Greek Super League title.
Last year, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe applied a similar strategy when both his teams, United and Nice, qualified for the Europa League. The Red Devils are gearing up for their semi-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.
With the return of Sokratis Kominakis to the Forest board, Marinakis' co-owner is back at the helm. The group that controls Forest also owns Portuguese side Rio Ave. Currently, Forest sit sixth in the Premier League, just goal difference behind Chelsea, with the top five sealing spots in next season's Champions League.
A win against Brentford would push Forest up the table to third position, edging out only Liverpool—the reigning champions—and second-placed Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest, former European champions, have not seen European action since the competition underwent a rebranding in the 90s. Marinakis, the shipping tycoon, has overseen Forest's return to the Premier League and their resurgence as a top-half club since his acquisition in 2017. He's been controlling Olympiacos since 2010, leading the team to win their domestic title 11 times and bag their first European trophy, the Conference League, last year.
These UEFA rules aim to ensure competitive balance and prevent conflicts of interest by stopping an individual from exerting control over multiple teams in the same European competition[1][2]. This strategy is commonly employed as a stopgap solution to avoid any potential favoritism or disadvantage for either team in the competition.
- Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest owner, handed his Premier League club's reins to avoid UEFA rules that forbid one person from controlling two teams in the same European competition.
- Marinakis' strategic move ensures he avoids potential complications in Forest's chase for the Champions League qualification.
- Forest, a former European champion, has not seen European action since the competition underwent a rebranding in the 90s.
- Marinakis' co-ownership group also controls a Portuguese side named Rio Ave.
- These UEFA rules are designed to ensure competitive balance and prevent conflicts of interest by stopping individuals from exerting control over multiple teams in the same European competition.
