The very latest Premier League news as Manchester United great Gary Neville reacts to being banned from commentating on Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea this weekend.
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Manchester United great Gary Neville.
Manchester United great Gary Neville.(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Gary Neville has admitted his disappointment at being banned from the City Ground for Nottingham Forest's Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Forest welcome their top-five rivals to Nottingham looking to book their spot in the Champions League. Nuno Espirito Santo's men are currently seventh in the table, and need results to go their way to give them a chance.
Despite sitting in the qualification spots for the majority of the season, Forest's form has dipped in recent weeks, while they now face the prospect of settling for the Conference League. Win on Sunday and they could seal their spot in Europe's prestigious competition, 12 months after fighting relegation.
However, Neville won't be co-commentating at the City Ground after Forest asked Sky Sports to change up their commentary team for the match. The Daily Mail have reported that the club had written to the broadcaster with a formal complaint after a series of comments made.
The former Manchester United defender recently sent Forest fans into fury with his criticism of owner Evangelos Marinakis after he walked onto the pitch after the draw with Leicester City. "Scandalous from that Forest owner," he wrote on X. "Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that."
Neville has broken his silence on social media, calling the decision disappointing. "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," he wrote.
"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 these last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action."Personally, I think that 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 do wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football."
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