Evangelos Marinakis Faces Trial for Alleged Football Violence

Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, is currently on trial in Athens, facing serious allegations of instigating football violence and supporting a criminal organization. The 58-year-old businessman, who acquired the Greek football club Olympiacos in 2010, is charged alongside four other board members with two misdemeanor counts: instigating violence through statements against authorities and supporting a criminal group in the period from 2019 to 2024.

Represented by attorney Vassilis Dimakopoulos, Marinakis and his co-defendants have labeled the charges as unfounded. “The accusations are totally baseless,” Dimakopoulos stated in an interview with BBC Sport earlier today.

The case also involves 142 fans facing charges for being part of a criminal organization linked to life-threatening incidents at sporting events. Among them, seven individuals are accused of leading the criminal organization.

The charges arise from a tragic event in 2023 in which 31-year-old riot police officer George Lyngeridis sustained fatal injuries during altercations outside a women’s volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. He was struck by a flare during the violence and succumbed to his injuries weeks later.

The trial is anticipated to extend over several months, with more than 200 witnesses expected to testify. Due to the large number of defendants—exceeding 140—the trial is being conducted in a specially designed chamber adjacent to Korydallos high-security prison in southern Attica, rather than in a standard courthouse.

On the day of the trial, armed police were present, and proceedings began later than scheduled, commencing at 13:30 local time and concluding at 15:00. A request for a larger courtroom has been made by the defense lawyers, which the judges will consider in advance of the next session. The panel consists of three senior judges who will make decisions based on a majority vote.

The defendants, primarily fans, are being tried for their alleged involvement in the violent incidents that led to the police officer’s death in Piraeus, a port city. Despite some Olympiacos fans gathering outside the courtroom, there was no organized show of support for the defendants. Strict police measures were enforced, including ID checks and metal detector screenings for those entering the courtroom.

The trial commenced in a solemn atmosphere, with the judges requesting the presence of the defendants and reading out their names. Heavily armed police officers were stationed around the courtroom. The next hearing is scheduled for November 25.