Paul Renteurs represents the FA in an appeal brought by Nottingham Forest FC owner

Paul Renteurs represented the Football Association at an appeal against a decision of the Regulatory Commission, brought by Mr Evangelos Marinakis – the owner of Nottingham Forest Football Club. On 18th October 2024, an FA Regulatory Commission found that Mr Marinakis was guilty of improper conduct contrary to FA Rule E3.1, and imposed a 5 match stadium ban upon him. After a match against Fulham FC on 28th September 2024, Mr Marinakis had spat on the floor near the feet of match officials as they made their way along the tunnel to their changing room, in what the Commission described as a ‘disrespectful and disgusting display of contempt towards the match officials’.

Mr Marinakis – represented at first instance by Jim Sturman KC, and at the appeal hearing itself by Lord Grabiner KC – appealed against both the finding of improper conduct, and the sanction that the Commission had imposed. The Appeal Board, chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Dyson, dismissed both parts of the appeal. In a statement drawn directly from Paul’s written submissions for the appeal against sanction, the FA commented, ‘It is […] vital that a clear message is sent that this behaviour will not be tolerated in any part of football’. The Appeal Board concluded that it ‘[accepted] the entirety of these submissions’.

Paul was instructed by the FA Regulatory Legal Team.

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