EXPLAINED: Why Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was forced to step down by UEFA?

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has relinquished his position as a person with significant control of the Premier League club as it closes in on Champions League qualification.

 

According to filings made to the U.K. government on Wednesday, Greek businessman Marinakis has ceased to have significant control of NF Football Investments Ltd, which owns the club.

 

Marinakis is also president of Olympiacos, which is in position to qualify for the Champions League at the top of the Greek league. UEFA has rules to bar clubs from its competitions in any season if owners have decisive influence over two clubs which qualify.

 

Forest is a surprise contender to qualify for next season's Champions League after battling to avoid relegation last year. It is sixth in the standings, with the top five qualifying for European club football top competition. It was in 1980 that the team last played European football.

 

Meanwwhile, Olympiacos is on course to win another league title in Greece, leading second-placed AEK Athens by seven points.

 

It is level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand on all the teams above it. Their goalkeeper Matz Sels boasts the most clean sheets this season with 13 while striker Chris Wood is the fourth-highest scorer of the season with 19 goals to his credit. Antony Elanga has managed nine assists so far to claim the joint-sixth spot.

 

In separate filings Pittville One Limited was named as a person of significant control, while Sokratis Kominakis, who is part-owner of NF Football Investments, was appointed director.

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