Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is anticipated to bring in Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu Gaspar, has had his appeal against a stadium ban rejected by the Football Association (FA). The Greek businessman, worth over £3 billion, will now miss attending five matches.

Earlier this season, Marinakis was penalised by the FA for 'improper behaviour' at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, following an accusation of 'spitting on the floor' as the officiating team passed him in the tunnel.

On that day, Forest, currently sitting third in the Premier League table after ten games and ahead of Arsenal, were defeated 1-0 by Fulham. Marinakis had appealed against this sanction.

However, on the same day reports emerged that Edu is set to leave Arsenal and effectively join Marinakis’ football group, it was confirmed that the Forest owner’s ban would stand. According to an FA statement, “An Appeal Board has dismissed an appeal by Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis in relation to misconduct at their Premier League fixture on Saturday, 28 September, against Fulham.”

“It was alleged that Evangelos Marinakis’s behaviour in the tunnel area after full-time was improper. He denied this charge, but it was deemed proven by an independent Regulatory Commission, leading to a five-match stadium/ground suspension.”

“Evangelos Marinakis appealed the Regulatory Commission’s ruling, yet this was rejected by the Appeal Board, and the written reasons for this decision will be published in due course.”

The 57-year-old has already missed three matches due to the ban and will now be absent from the stands, where he typically watches fixtures, until after the international break. Forest face Newcastle and Arsenal in the two games from which Marinakis will continue to be barred.

Marinakis argued in his appeal that he was 'suffering from a persistent cough' on the day of the Fulham match, noting that he 'smokes two or three cigars daily' and often needs to clear his throat. He claimed he tends to spit out the phlegm when no tissue is available.

Meanwhile, Marinakis is reportedly nearing a deal to bring Edu from north London. Edu, a former player from Arsenal’s legendary 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’ squad—the last team to win the league for the club—has reportedly agreed to join Marinakis’ multi-club structure.

Over the past five years, Edu has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s revival, supporting manager Mikel Arteta through a period of significant success for the club. In November 2022, he was appointed Arsenal’s inaugural sporting director, having previously held the title of technical director—a new role at the club when it was created.