Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has launched legal action against Crystal Palace over a controversial banner displayed by Palace supporters during a Premier League match between the clubs last season.
Lawyers representing Marinakis filed a defamation claim at the High Court on Monday, with CPFC Limited named as one of two defendants in the case.
The dispute relates to a banner shown in the stands at Selhurst Park during the 1-1 draw between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in August 2025. It depicted Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and referred sarcastically to allegations involving blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking and corruption.
Marinakis has repeatedly rejected allegations of wrongdoing connected to such claims.
The Football Association later charged Crystal Palace in November 2025 over the conduct of supporters, accusing the club of failing to prevent behaviour considered improper, offensive, abusive or provocative.
The FA did not specifically identify the banner as the basis of the charge. However, football regulations place restrictions on banners and other supporter displays containing potentially defamatory, political or offensive material.
The incident came during a period of heightened tension surrounding Forest and Gibbs-White. The England midfielder had appeared close to joining Tottenham earlier in the summer after Spurs were understood to have activated a £60 million release clause.
The proposed move did not go ahead, however, and Gibbs-White instead committed his future to Nottingham Forest by signing a new contract. His decision was subsequently discussed publicly alongside Marinakis.
Relations between Palace and Forest were also complicated by European qualification issues.
Forest ultimately replaced Palace in the Europa League after UEFA ruled that the south London club had breached its multi-club ownership regulations. Palace were moved into the Conference League instead, while Marinakis-owned Forest took the Europa League place.
The High Court proceedings now create another chapter in the increasingly strained relationship surrounding the two Premier League clubs.