Nottingham Forest have issued a statement denying any confrontation between owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo following Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
The club has labelled media reports about the incident as "fake news" and explained that Marinakis's appearance on the pitch was due to concern for injured striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest urged "former coaches and players, and other public figures" to avoid rushing to judgement without full context.
The incident occurred after Forest's 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester at the weekend, a result that leaves the club's Champions League hopes in jeopardy.
Many fans and pundits are calling his behaviour 'unacceptable' Getty Television footage showed an agitated-looking Marinakis entering the pitch and appearing to speak with Nuno, who was shaking hands with Leicester midfielder Oliver Skipp at the time.
The exchange prompted pundit Gary Neville to describe the incident as "scandalous" and suggest Espirito Santo should leave the club.
Forest later clarified that Marinakis's actions were prompted by concern for striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who had continued playing despite sustaining an injury during the match.
The Nigerian forward subsequently required "urgent" surgery on Monday night following the incident where he crashed into the goalpost alongside Leicester's Facundo Buonanotte.
Forest confirmed on Tuesday that the 27-year-old is "recovering well" after the procedure, calling the injury a "powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game".
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In their statement, Forest emphasised Marinakis's emotional connection to the club, saying: "To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn't just a football club - it's family - and he instils that message in all of us."
The club explained his pitch entrance as an instinctive reaction born from "deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own".
Forest added that Marinakis was frustrated at seeing "our player lying on the ground in severe pain - something no one with genuine care could ignore".
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Taiwo Awoniyi suffered the injury in the latter stages, prompting Evangelos Marinakis' on-field outburstPAThe club's statement directly addressed the alleged confrontation: "The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium."
Forest called on influential voices to "resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online" when they lack full context.
They added: "Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one - least of all the injured player."
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Nuno Espirito Santo and Evangelos Marinakis appeared to exchange words after a 2-2 draw with Leicester
GettyForest are currently experiencing a difficult run of form, having gone four matches without a win as they approach the final stages of the season.
The club will be aiming to keep their Champions League hopes alive when they face West Ham on Sunday.
Forest will conclude their season the following week with a match against Chelsea, as they look to end their campaign on a positive note.
