The trial of the Greek president of Olympiacos begins in the largest case related to sports violence | sports

The trial of Olympiacos club president Evangelos Marinakis began in Greece today, Wednesday, along with dozens of football fans, in the largest case of its kind related to sports-related violence, a case that the authorities have pledged to address firmly.

142 fans face charges of forming a criminal organization and causing life-threatening explosions during sporting events, and all of the accused denied any wrongdoing.

Marinakis, the shipping and media tycoon and owner of the English club Nottingham Forest, and four other members of the board of directors also face charges related to supporting an alleged criminal group during the period from 2019 to 2024 and inciting violence due to a statement issued in 2023. But they rejected these charges, considering them baseless.

Marinakis did not attend the trial session on Wednesday in a crowded hall inside the high-security Korydallos prison in Athens, where he was represented by a team of lawyers and masked police officers guarded a number of defendants who were still in detention.

More than 210 people are expected to testify before the three-judge panel during the trial, which lawyers estimate could last more than a year.

The session was postponed until November 25 after the judge responsible for managing the court sessions reviewed the names of the defendants and witnesses.

Fireworks and improvised explosives

Sports violence has swept Greece in the past few years, and fanatical fans who follow their teams in various sports often clash with police outside stadiums, as well as quarrels with fans of competing teams in the streets. Public riots are a major concern for the European Football Association (UEFA).

The investigation began after George Lengiridis, 31, a riot police officer, was fatally injured in 2023 during clashes outside a women’s volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, a match usually considered low-risk.

Before that match, the investigation revealed that some fans had moved a bag containing fireworks and improvised explosives from a storeroom on the football field to the volleyball court. Lengiridis was hit by one of the fireworks during the clashes, and died of serious injuries several weeks later.

This was the third death resulting from sports-related violence in Greece during 2022-2023, which prompted the Prosecutor General to call for tough action against criminal gangs linked to sports.