Olympiacos Chairman Marinakis, Officials Face Trial Over Sports Violence

Evangelos Marinakis, chairman of Olympiakos, along with four board members, is facing trial on misdemeanour charges related to sports violence and alleged connections to a criminal organization following a riot that resulted in the death of a police officer in December 2023. The judicial council has also referred over 140 Olympiakos fans to trial for similar charges. Marinakis and his associates deny any wrongdoing, claiming the accusations are baseless and politically motivated, aimed at silencing him and undermining press freedom. The legal proceedings stem from increased scrutiny of violence associated with Greek sports, particularly in light of recent deadly incidents. In a statement, Marinakis condemned the government's actions as an effort to manipulate justice for political purposes. The trial date has yet to be set, and authorities continue to address the ongoing issue of hooliganism in Greek sports.