Marinakis Greek Trial Over Football Violence Allegations

Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has gone on trial in Athens, accused of instigating football violence and supporting a criminal organisation.

The 58-year-old Greek businessman and four Olympiacos board members face two misdemeanour counts, allegedly inciting violence through statements against authorities and supporting a criminal group between 2019 and 2024.

Marinakis, represented in court by his lawyer Vassilis Dimakopoulos, has firmly denied the charges. “The accusations are totally baseless,” Marinakis’ lawyer told BBC Sport.

In total, 142 football supporters are also facing charges of being part of a criminal organisation and of causing life-threatening explosions at sporting events. Seven of them are accused of leading the group. All defendants have denied any wrongdoing.

The case stems from the fatal injury of 31-year-old riot police officer George Lyngeridis, who died weeks after being struck by a flare during violent clashes outside a women’s volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in 2023.

Because of the scale of the case, with more than 140 defendants and 220 witnesses, the trial is being held in a purpose-built courtroom next to Korydallos high-security prison in southern Attica rather than a standard courthouse.

Proceedings began Wednesday under tight police security. Officers blocked nearby streets and carried out ID checks and metal-detector scans on everyone entering the building.

The trial represents one of Greece’s largest prosecutions connected to sports-related violence, an issue that has repeatedly troubled Greek sport. Authorities, under pressure from UEFA and public outcry, have vowed to crack down on hooliganism after a string of violent incidents in recent years.

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