NOTTINGHAM FOREST owner Evangelos Marinakis was allegedly removed by security after chasing referee Paul Tierney down the tunnel.
An eye-witness, working for BBC 5 Live, claimed the incident happened immediately after Forest were controversially beaten 1-0 by Liverpool thanks to a 99th minute goal from Darwin Nunez.
Livid Marinakis, first-team coach Steven Reid and other staff confronted Tierney at the final whistle.
Tierney sent off Reid, before the argument continued down the tunnel.
Pitchside reporter Rob Schofield told 5 Live: “You rarely see scenes like that in the tunnel. Marinakis had to be removed by security.
“We saw Reid getting frustrated and he and Marinakis pursued Tierney and Graham Scott all the way to the referee’s office.
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“They were yelling at them, ‘Respect the players, respect the players. This happens every week. Respect the players’.”
Forest have insisted Marinakis was calm and had only a brief exchange with the referee and that security were not needed.
The anger was sparked after Tierney handed the ball to Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher after stopping play over a head injury to Kop defender Ibrahima Konate.
This was despite Forest star Callum Hudson-Odoi being in possession when the game was halted.
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The Premier League clash at the City Ground was as already deep into stoppage time, and heading for a goalless draw.
That was until Nunez fired his glancing header beyond Mats Sels, well past the initial eight minutes of added time.
Furious Forest fans chanted “cheat” at Tierney as proceedings drew to a close.
Speaking after the whistle, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo raged: “I don’t want to speak about the referee. Don’t push me.”
But the club’s official ref advisor and former Prem whistler Mark Clattenburg said: “Quite rightly the owner’s upset because he feels another decision has gone against the club.
“Forest should have had the ball back. But Liverpool got it, went upfield and scored.”
Clattenburg continued: “The law is clear that if the ball is outside the area, you get possession back. Everything seems to be going against Forest.
“There have been one or two decisions against them — decisions that the PGMOL accepted have been a mistake.
You rarely see scenes like that in the tunnel. Marinakis had to be removed by security.
BBC reporter Rob Schofield
“If the ref stops the game for a head injury, the ball has to go back to the team in possession.
“And Forest clearly had that possession. This is a matter of law.
“I’m here to advise the board but I haven’t spoken to the referee. Paul wouldn’t allow me in.
“Everybody is upset. When you lose a game like that then people are frustrated.”
The PGMOL also last night confirmed that Tierney had made an error.
Marinakis, who bought Forest back in 2017, is a Greek shipping magnate worth £2.5billion.
Defeat leaves Forest in 17th — just four points above the drop zone and facing a potential points rap over their finances.
Marinakis and Co look set to lodge a complaint with the PGMOL.
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Liverpool boss Klopp said: “I don’t know the rule, to be honest. I understand Forest’s anger.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
