Furious Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis ‘removed by security after chasing ref Paul Tierney down tunnel’
NOTTINGHAM FOREST owner Evangelos Marinakis was allegedly removed by security after chasing referee Paul Tierney down the tunnel.
BBC 5 Live claims the incident happened immediately after Forest were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool thanks to a 99th minute goal from Darwin Nunez.
AFPEvangelos Marinakis reportedly chased Paul Tierney down the tunnel on Saturday[/caption]
AlamyNottingham Forest were fuming after Liverpool scored a controversial late winner[/caption]
AFPA big call from Tierney resulted in Liverpool netting in the 99th minute[/caption]
Forest have insisted Marinakis was calm and had only a brief exchange with the referee and that security were not needed.
The Premier League clash at the City Ground was heading towards a draw when the league leaders bagged a dramatic late winner.
As the clock ticked down in extra time, Ibrahim Konate went down with an apparent head injury.
However, he quickly recovered as ref Tierney opted for a drop-ball at the feet of Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Forest were left fuming at the decision, having already been outraged by the amount of extra time.
But they were even more angry when Nunez was played in, with the striker going on to hit the back of the net.
First-team coach Steven Reid was sent off as Marinakis put on an angry display in the stands.
Furious Forest fans also chanted “cheat” as proceedings drew to a close.
And it was at this stage that Marinakis, along with dismissed coach Reid, allegedly chased after Tierney down the tunnel to the referees’ office.
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Security then had to step in, reportedly removing Marinakis from the scene.
BBC 5Live reporter Rob Schofield said on air: “You rarely see scenes like that in the tunnel.
“We saw Steven Reid getting frustrated, he and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis pursued Paul Tierney and Graham Scott all the way to the referees’ office.
“(Marinakis was) yelling at them, ‘Respect the players, respect the players. This happens every week. Respect the players’.
“Marinakis had to be removed by security at a certain. The Forest players were furious. Nuno looked absolutely crestfallen.
“Jurgen Klopp stormed past me saying he doesn’t know why he’s getting so much flak. It really was all kicking off down here.”
Speaking after the game, Klopp said: “Pretty special afternoon. It’s been a tricky schedule.
“This game didn’t go easy for us. We didn’t have a great rhythm and the boys felt the intensity for the first time. We had our moments. We didn’t start well.
“In the last second the guy who looks like a former Liverpool player thought I’ll score a goal and decide the game.
“The goal was set up by a guy who was the calmest on the whole pitch. I saw it only live but I’ll never forget it. He was calm. He chips the ball there. Super assist and super important goal.
“If you’d told me 12 days ago we would win all four games I would have said no chance, it was impossible. In the circumstances winning the games is ridiculous.
“We will recharge until the next game. It’s pretty special what the boys did. To get to that points tally was a big fight. It never was easy.”
