Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-match stadium ban for "improper conduct" following an incident where he was found guilty of spitting near referee Josh Smith in the tunnel after a defeat to Fulham. The decision, made on October 18, comes after Marinakis denied the charge during a hearing, with the full judgment released on October 22.
The charge stemmed from an incident described by referee Smith, who reported that Marinakis spat on the floor next to his left foot as he walked down the tunnel. This act was witnessed by assistant referee James Mainwaring and fourth official Tim Robinson. Marinakis contended that he merely coughed, attributing the incident to his smoking habit and a cough he was experiencing at the time.
His defense argued that he often needs to expectorate and that if he does spit, he typically uses a tissue. On the day of the incident, he claimed he was taking lozenges for his cough and did not intentionally spit at the referee. However, the FA disagreed, stating that video footage did not support Marinakis's claims of coughing and emphasized that he failed to cover his mouth, a common courtesy when coughing near others.
Marinakis was absent from the City Ground during Forest's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace while the club appealed his ban.
Major League Soccer (MLS) has introduced a groundbreaking 'cash-for-player' trade mechanism, allowing clubs to directly purchase players from other teams within the league.
This initiative aims to retain top talent domestically and enhance the fluidity of player movements.
As MLS's senior vice president of player relations and competition, Jeff Agoos, explained, "The structure of the cash-for-player trades was really designed to put the trade on the same footing as a transfer out, so you could compare and contrast and decide which one would be better."
This policy shift has already led to significant transactions.
Notably, FC Dallas acquired Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati for $5 million, with potential performance-based incentives adding up to $1 million.
FC Dallas President Dan Hunt emphasised the club's ambition, stating, "This is a landmark signing for FC Dallas and a statement of our commitment to building a championship-caliber team."
Similarly, Houston Dynamo FC secured midfielder Jack McGlynn from the Philadelphia Union in a historic deal, marking the first cash-for-homegrown player trade in MLS history.
Pat Onstad, Houston Dynamo's president of soccer, praised McGlynn's fit for their style, noting, "Jack is a talented young player who fits our possession-oriented style of play."
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