NOTTINGHAM FOREST owner Evangelos Marinakis is on trial in Greece facing misdemeanour charges.
According to the BBC, Marinakis, 58, who also owns reigning Greek champions Olympiacos, is accused of instigating football violence and supporting a criminal organisation.
The charges relate to fan troubles that took place in 2023 after a women’s volleyball match between Olympiacos and rivals Panathinaikos in Renti.
The violence allegedly resulted in the death of police officer Giorgos Lyngeridis, who was hit by a flare and died from his injuries weeks later at the age of 31.
Four other Olympiacos officials are also facing the above charges in this case.
All of the aforementioned deny the accusations and deem them groundless.
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Forest chief Marinakis’ lawyer told the BBC: “The accusations are totally baseless.”
A total of 142 fans face felony charges of being members of a criminal organisation and causing life-threatening explosions at sporting events.
Seven of them are also accused of running the criminal organisation – they have all denied wrongdoing.
Over 200 witnesses are expected to testify in the trial, which will take at least a few months until it reaches a verdict.
The trial opened on Wednesday in a specially-designed room next to the courthouse of Korydallos high-security prison.
Marinakis was represented by his lawyer Vassilis Dimakopoulos in court.
The next hearing will take place on November 25.
