Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville has been denied media access to Nottingham Forest’s final Premier League match of the season against Chelsea at the City Ground on Sunday.
Neville, who was set to provide commentary for Sky Sports, was reportedly refused accreditation by the club. The decision comes after the former Manchester United defender made controversial remarks about Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, earlier in the season.
On Instagram, Neville revealed: “Sky Sports informed me earlier this week that I was assigned to cover Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea. Unfortunately, I won’t be there, but I wish the team, staff, and fans the best in their push for Champions League qualification.”
Neville has been vocal in his criticism of Forest and Marinakis this campaign. Following a recent incident where Marinakis confronted manager Nuno Espírito Santo on the pitch after a draw with Leicester, Neville called the owner’s behavior “shocking” and suggested Nuno should resign.
Tensions escalated when Neville likened Forest’s conduct to that of a “mafia gang” in response to the club’s public complaints about refereeing decisions in a loss to Everton. The remark led to legal threats from Marinakis, prompting Sky to issue an apology.
Nottingham Forest declined to comment when approached for further details. The decision to block Neville’s entry adds another layer to the ongoing friction between the pundit and the club’s hierarchy.