CRYSTAL PALACE face a six-figure fine after being charged by the FA for their fan abuse of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Eagles fans blame Marinakis for their relegation from the Europa League to the Conference League, with Forest being promoted in their place.
And their anger boiled over when the two sides met at Selhurst Park in August.
Palace fans in their “ultras” Holmesdale Stand unfurled a banner with a caricature version of the Greek shipping magnate holding a gun to the head of England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White had seemed bound for Spurs after Tottenham triggered his release fee in the summer.
But the midfielder changed his mind and signed a new deal at the City Ground following conversations with the owner.
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The banner read: “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption.”
During the game, the Palace supporters regularly repeated an abusive song, referencing Uefa, Marinakis and Lyon owner John Textor, who was responsible for the “multi-club ownership” issues that cost the Eagles their place in the Europa League.
Marinakis and Forest were furious, believing the banner was both inflammatory and xenophobic, with fingers pointed at Palace for allowing their fans to bring it into the stadium.
The FA launched an investigation the next day and now Palace have been formally charged.
In a statement, the FA said: “Crystal Palace has been charged with misconduct in relation to its Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, August 24.
“It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) didn’t behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way during the fixture.”
Palace have until next Tuesday to respond to the charge.
