Vangelis Marinakis, owner of Greek champion Olympiakos
Piraeus, has been banned from football as an investigation continues into
allegations that a criminal organisation is controlling the domestic game in
Greece.
According to judicial sources, the shipping magnate has also
been ordered to report to police every 15 days on strict bail terms.
Marinakis was released on bail of €200,000 after giving testimony to Athens prosecutor George Andreadis in a seven-hour
hearing.
The Olympiakos president is accused of being involved in and
directing a criminal organisation, aiding and abetting blackmailing, aiding and
abetting extortion, and aiding and abetting bribery and fraud.
Marinakis must now quit as president of Olympiakos, but he
can retain ownership of the company that runs the club.
He later released a defiant statement via the club's
website.
"I want to assure the supporters of Olympiakos that
today's decision has no impact on our team," he said.
"I remain the major shareholder and guarantor of the
future of our Olympiakos.
"After the board meeting scheduled for Monday, we will
announce decisions on our plans for the 2015-2016 season for which have already
been designed and launched with the aim of winning the Greek championship and
enjoying a great run in the Champions League."
The development could have serious ramifications for the
Super League winners who are due to take part in next season's Champions
League.
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According to media reports, runners-up Panathinaikos and
third-placed Paok Salonika have prepared complaints to organisers Uefa that
question whether Olympiakos should be allowed to compete in Europe.
Marinakis' hearing came 24 hours after former Hellenic
Football Federation (EPO) president Giorgos Sarris was banned from football and
ordered to remain in Greece as part of his bail terms.
Sarris, president of the EPO from October 2012 to December
2014, was released on bail of €50,000 (NZ$82,000). He denies all accusations.
He faces charges including constituting and directing a
criminal organisation, fraud, blackmail and bribery.
The latest Greek football scandal, following the
'Koriopolis' match-fixing probe of 2011, emerged in April when a 173-page
document was revealed by prosecutor Aristidis Korreas and prompted a nationwide
investigation.
Korreas' document contained transcriptions of telephone
tapping operated by the National Intelligence Service.
It is alleged that Marinakis and EPO officials Sarris and
Theodoros Kouridis were responsible for directing a criminal organisation since
2011 with the aim of "absolute control of Greek football's fate by the
methods of blackmailing and fraud".
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