Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek football magnate and owner of Nottingham Forest, is currently undergoing a legal battle in Athens, where he and four fellow Olympiacos board members face two misdemeanor charges: instigating violence through public statements targeting authorities and allegedly supporting a criminal group between 2019 and 2024. The 58-year-old, who acquired Olympiacos in 2010, has denied the allegations, with his lawyer, Vassilis Dimakopoulos, labeling them as "totally baseless" in a recent statement to BBC Sport.
The legal proceedings stem from a tragic incident in 2023, when 31-year-old riot police officer George Lyngeridis suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a flare during clashes outside a women’s volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in Piraeus. He later succumbed to his wounds. Over 140 fans are also charged with involvement in a criminal organization, with seven facing additional accusations of leading it. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The trial, held in a specially constructed space adjacent to Korydallos high-security prison in southern Attica, began with delays, starting at 13:30 local time instead of the scheduled midday session. The court, comprising three senior judges, will hear testimony from more than 200 witnesses. Security was stringent, with ID checks, metal detectors, and separate entry points for legal teams, witnesses, and journalists. A makeshift media hub was established nearby, as armed police in hoods patrolled the premises.
Legal representatives have requested a larger courtroom for future sessions, a move under review by the judges ahead of the next hearing on November 25. The case highlights ongoing tensions between football clubs and authorities over fan violence, with Marinakis’ defense emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence to support the charges.
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