ATHENS :The trial of Greece's Olympiacos football club chairman Evangelos Marinakis and dozens of soccer fans began in Greece on Wednesday, the biggest case of its kind linked to sports-related violence that authorities have vowed to crack down on.

In total, 142 fans face charges of running a crime organisation and causing life-threatening explosions at sporting events. They have denied wrongdoing.

Marinakis, a shipping and media tycoon who also owns English Premier League club Nottingham Forest, and another four board members are accused of supporting the alleged criminal group in 2019-2024 and instigating violence with statements against authorities. They have dismissed the misdemeanour charges as groundless.

Marinakis was not present in the packed courtroom at Athens' high-security K

See Full Page