Jamie Carragher has poked fun at his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville after it emerged that the former Manchester United defender remains unwelcome at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
Neville fell out with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis earlier this year after slamming him on social media when the Greek businessman stormed onto the pitch following a home draw with Leicester in May.
Marinakis appeared to confront head coach Nuno Espírito Santo but later claimed he was worried about striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who had collided with a post and continued playing before later undergoing abdominal surgery.
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At the time, Neville branded Marinakis’ actions “scandalous”, posting on X: “Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.”
Jamie Carragher has poked fun at his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville after it emerged that the former Manchester United defender remains unwelcome at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground
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That criticism led Forest to hit back in an official statement, warning: “We urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context.
"Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one – least of all the injured player.”
According to recent reports, Neville will not be permitted entry for Forest’s opening Premier League clash with Brentford on Sunday, which Sky Sports will broadcast live.
Carragher, never one to miss an opportunity for banter, joked to his co-pundit: “Will you be at Forest, Gary?”
Neville later admitted the club’s stance had left him frustrated, writing: “I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.
"Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.
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Gary Neville had criticised Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at times last season
| GETTY"Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.”
The row is the latest in a series of spats between Neville and Forest.
Back in April, the club threatened Sky Sports with legal action after he described one of their statements as resembling something from a “mafia gang.”
The club's message, issued in the aftermath of a defeat to Everton, accused VAR official Stuart Attwell of bias due to his links with rivals Luton and raged at “three extremely poor decisions, three penalties not given, which we simply cannot accept.”
Neville blasted the statement at the time, saying: “I mean honestly, what the hell are they playing at?
"It’s like a petulant child. It’s embarrassing.”
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Nottingham Forest face Brentford on Sunday, having lost 2-0 to the same opponents last season
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Forest maintain Neville has not been formally banned but stress he will not be allowed back into the ground until the situation is resolved, potentially by him showing more restraint when discussing Marinakis.
Forest will do battle with Brentford at the City Ground on Sunday (2pm).
They lost 2-0 in the same fixture last term, with the Bees securing victory following goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa.