It was a moment of high tension and raw emotion at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest had just conceded a late equaliser to Leicester City, dashing their hopes of a crucial win in their quest for Champions League football next season. As the final whistle blew, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was seen shaking hands with Leicester midfielder Oliver Skipp, a player he once managed at Tottenham. But the calm was shattered when Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stormed onto the pitch.

Marinakis, visibly furious, confronted Nuno in what appeared to be a public dressing down. The Greek businessman later defended his actions in a post-match statement, citing frustration over the injury of striker Taiwo Awoniyi and the medical staff's misjudgement. "This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club," Marinakis said.

Nuno, however, was quick to downplay the incident, attributing it to the confusion surrounding Awoniyi's substitution. The Nigerian forward had come off the bench following Leicester's late equaliser but collided with the goalpost in a desperate attempt to score. Despite signalling he was fine to continue, Awoniyi remained in discomfort, leading to a substitution that left Forest with ten men.

"Football is emotions. It's difficult to control, especially when we had so much expectation and the fans were incredible," Nuno said. He praised Marinakis for his passion, stating that it is this very passion that has driven the club's growth. "It is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better," Nuno added.

However, not everyone was convinced. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville described Marinakis' actions as "an absolute joke" and urged Nuno to negotiate his exit. "To be remonstrated with on the pitch in front of their own fans is an absolute scandal," Neville said.

Marinakis' tenure at Forest has been marked by controversy. From a five-match stadium ban for spitting at match officials to diluting his shares in the club, the Greek businessman has often been in the spotlight. Yet, his commitment to the club remains unwavering. The recent move to place his shares in a blind trust is seen as a strategic decision to comply with UEFA's rules, should Forest qualify for the Champions League.

As the dust settles on this latest incident, one thing is clear: in the world of football, passion and professionalism often collide, leaving managers like Nuno to navigate the storm.