Nottingham Forest Owner Marinakis Steps Back To Meet UEFA Compliance Rules

‎Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, will not have a controlling interest in the club next season.

‎This move comes as the team prepares for its potential return to European football.

‎Marinakis, who also owns the Greek club Olympiacos, has placed his shares in a blind trust to adhere to UEFA regulations on multi-club ownership. These rules prohibit individuals from controlling two clubs that compete in the same competition.

‎The Greek side has already qualified for next season’s Champions League, meaning there would be a conflict of interest if Forest were to follow them into Europe’s top club competition.

‎If Nottingham Forest beats Brentford in their rescheduled match at the City Ground on Thursday, they will move up to third place in the Premier League with four games remaining.

‎Marinakis’ move is only a temporary measure and is a commonly used practice, with Manchester United’s co-owners, INEOS, suspending their interest in Nice for this season.

‎Sokratis Kominakis, co-owner of Nottingham Forest, is rejoining the club’s board. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is aiming for a top-five finish in the Premier League, which would secure qualification for the Champions League.

‎It is a dramatic improvement in fortunes for a club that faced back-to-back relegation fights after ending their 23-year exile from the Premier League in 2022.

‎Nottingham Forest had not participated in Europe’s top competition since the 1980/81 season when they were two-time defending champions under former manager Brian Clough.