Evangelos Marinakis Goes On Trial In Greece Alongside 142 Fans Over Sports-related Violence

The proceedings of nan Olympiakos chair, Evangelos Marinakis, and dozens of shot fans began successful Greece connected Wednesday, nan biggest lawsuit of its benignant linked to sports-related unit that authorities person vowed to ace down on.

In total, 142 fans look charges of moving a crime organisation and causing life-threatening explosions astatine sporting events. They person denied wrongdoing.

Marinakis, a shipping and media tycoon who besides owns Nottingham Forest, and different 4 committee members are accused of supporting nan alleged criminal group successful 2019-24 and instigating unit pinch statements against authorities. They person dismissed nan misdemeanour charges arsenic groundless.

Marinakis was not successful nan packed courtroom astatine Athens’ high-security Korydallos situation connected Wednesday and was represented by his lawyer. Masked constabulary officers guarded a fewer defendants still successful detention.

More than 210 group will attest earlier nan three-member chair during nan trial, which lawyers estimate could past much than a year.

Violence has plagued athletics successful Greece successful caller years. Hardcore supporters, pursuing nan aforesaid nine crossed different sports, often conflict pinch constabulary extracurricular stadiums and pinch rival fans successful arranged thoroughfare brawls. Hooliganism is besides a awesome interest for European football’s governing body, Uefa.

The investigation was launched aft nan 2023 fatal wounded of a 31-year-old riot constabulary officer, George Lyngeridis, successful clashes extracurricular a women’s volleyball lucifer betwixt Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, a usually low-risk game.

Masked constabulary officers were connected work extracurricular Athens’ precocious information Korydallos situation erstwhile nan proceedings complete sports-related unit began connected Wednesday. Photograph: Louiza Vradi/Reuters

Before that match, immoderate of nan fans moved a container of flares and makeshift explosives from a retention room astatine their shot stadium to nan volleyball venue, nan investigation found. Lyngeridis was deed by a flare during nan clashes and died from his injuries weeks later.

It was Greece’s 3rd fatality successful sports unit successful 2022-2023 and prompted nan apical tribunal charismatic to impulse a clampdown connected criminal gangs linked pinch sports.