FA charges Crystal Palace over banner targeting Marinakis

Crystal Palace have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after supporters displayed a graphic banner targeting Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis during the clubs 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on August 24. The FA said the charge alleges Crystal Palace failed to ensure its spectators did not behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting or provocative way during the fixture. The club has until Tuesday November 11 to respond.

The banner, held up in the Holmesdale Stand where the Holmesdale Fanatics supporters group sits, depicted a caricature of Marinakis pointing a gun at Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and included the message, "Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, matchfixing, drug trafficking or corruption." The display came amid heightened tensions between the two clubs after European places were settled over the summer.

Palace won the FA Cup last season and initially qualified for this season's Europa League. UEFA later ruled that Palace were ineligible because a previous majority owner held a controlling interest in another qualified club, and Palace were demoted to the Europa Conference League. Nottingham Forest were upgraded to...