Sky Sports removes Gary Neville from its Premier League finale due to unforeseen measures taken
Nottingham Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis has banned football pundit Gary Neville from commentating on Sunday's Premier League clash against Chelsea, causing him to withdraw from the Sky Sports coverage. The former Manchester United and England defender was due to co-commentate on the game, which is a potential Champions League qualification match for both teams.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Neville revealed that Forest denied him accreditation to access the stadium. He expressed disappointment that the historic club had taken such a step, stating it was a symptom of issues that have arisen over the past year. Sky Sports described the decision as "unprecedented and unwelcome".
The broadcaster instead presented the game from Sky Studios in west London, with Neville deciding to not be part of the coverage on Sunday as a result. The move follows Neville's harsh criticism of Marinakis, whom he accused of behaving scandalously on the pitch earlier this month after a draw with Leicester. Neville had further angered Marinakis by urging head coach Nuno Espirito Santo to quit the club in a social media post.
In the past, Marinakis had threatened Sky with legal action over comments made by Neville earlier in the season. Last year, after Forest's 2-0 defeat at Everton, the club issued a statement on social media that questioned the integrity of video assistant referee Stuart Atwell following claims of denied penalties. Neville's response comparing Forest's actions to those of a "mafia gang" prompted an apology from Sky after they were contacted by Marinakis' lawyers.
The Premier League finale clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea is set to be a pivotal match for both teams, with both aiming for a top five finish in the league. However, Neville will not be present to provide his expert analysis, with the ban on him being a noticeable absence for Sky Sports' coverage of the game.
- The ongoing dispute between Evangelos Marinakis and Gary Neville has extended to European leagues, as Neville was banned from commentating on Nottingham Forest's Premier League match against Chelsea, a potential Champions League qualification game.
- In previous seasons, sports analysis from Gary Neville, a former Manchester United and England defender, was a regular feature on Sky Sports' coverage of football matches; however, his expertise will be missing this time as he opted out due to the ban imposed by Nottingham Forest.
- The ongoing feud between Neville and Marinakis, sparked by critical comments about Marinakis' behavior and leadership, has led to a lack of sports analysis in the football arena, with Neville's insights typically valuable in the analysis of matches like the upcoming clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea in the Premier League.
