NafisaNottingham Forest have informed Sky that their main pundit Gary Neville is prohibited from entering The City Ground for their pivotal fixture of the season against Chelsea in an extraordinary move.
The Champions League hopefuls have requested the broadcaster alter its commentary lineup, believing there will be a hostile reception from fans due to some provocative remarks from Neville that they feel were intended to undermine the club’s achievements this season.
Forest’s decision follows strongly negative comments made by Neville on social media and a belief within the club that the former Manchester United defender holds a bias against the club, its leadership and coaching staff.
Forest have formally raised a complaint with Sky regarding Neville, after the broadcaster had earlier announced his involvement in Sunday’s coverage. Since that point, Forest have made their objections known.
The Premier League is said to be aware of the matter. Mail Sport understands that all member clubs have the authority to determine who can access their grounds — meaning the league will not interfere ahead of a showdown between two sides contending for a place in Europe’s premier club competition.
Sky Sports have labelled Forest’s move as ‘unprecedented and unwelcome’. They have opted to amend their production approach and will now broadcast from their west London studios.
It is believed that Neville himself decided to step back from the coverage, with Sky’s full support. The broadcaster will still provide live commentary from the stadium.
“I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match,” Neville wrote on Instagram on Friday evening.
“I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.
“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. 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.
“I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”
Neville sparked outrage at Forest when he heavily criticised owner Evangelos Marinakis for stepping onto the pitch and speaking with manager Nuno Espirito Santo after a 2-2 draw with Leicester.
“Scandalous from that Forest owner,” Neville posted on X. “Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.”
Forest later responded with a blistering statement which, without directly naming Neville, referred to “fake news online” and condemned “baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction”.
Neville acknowledged the backlash from Forest during his podcast this week, looking into the camera and sarcastically stating “Sorry Mr Marinakis!” while joking about owners stepping onto the field.
Rather than confronting the manager about the result, Forest explained Marinakis was instead concerned about Taiwo Awoniyi and whether the severe abdominal injury he suffered — which Mail Sport revealed can be life-threatening in some cases — had been properly addressed by the medical staff after he remained on the pitch.
“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 — least of all the injured player,” the club said.
“Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one — least of all the injured player.”
Last year, Forest received an apology from Sky over terminology used by Neville following their game against Everton.
After a 2-0 loss in which Forest believed they were denied three penalties, the club issued a fiery statement on X, questioning the appointment of Stuart Attwell as VAR.
Neville compared Forest’s behaviour to that of a “mafia gang”, with Marinakis later telling Mail Sport that his legal representatives had “been in contact with Sky regarding Neville and this is not over yet”.
A statement published on Sky Sports’ website read: “In response to a Nottingham Forest statement outlining their grievances with PGMOL following their match with Everton on 21 April Gary Neville, commenting on Super Sunday, strongly criticised Nottingham Forest’s approach.
“Sky Sports have discussed with Gary the language used and its potential to cause offence. Gary has agreed not to use the same or similar terms in future coverage.
“Sky Sports apologises to Nottingham Forest for any offence caused by this language.”
Nottingham Forest declined to comment.
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