Forest owner on trial over match-fixing

NOTTINGHAM Forest owner evangelos marinakis will be tried for match-fixing in greece, bringing uncertainty over his tenure at the City ground.

marinakis, who has stood down as olympiacos chairman until the case is concluded, denies all wrongdoing but is set to go to court next year.

Forest are confident marinakis will beat the charges while the EFL are satisfied that he passes their owners’ and directors’ test.

marinakis was given the green light to buy Forest in may while subject to charges relating to extortion, arson, fraud and participating in a criminal organisation.

those charges against marinakis ( right) were dropped by a panel of three judges, but a vote of two to one said the Forest owner must face trial on allegations of matchfixing, alongside 27 other businessmen and sporting officials.

the investigation focuses on games between 2012 and 2015. Convictions for match-fixing — formally called ‘unlawful influence of sporting event results’ — carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Forest chairman Nick randall QC said in a letter to supporters in June that marinakis had made sure systems were in place regardless of his ‘individual fortunes’. marinakis is adamant he will be cleared. ‘i am certain that my innocence with regard to these remaining charges will be demonstrated by the judicial process that will ensue, thus fully exonerating me and vindicating the stated opinion of the chair of the Judicial Council,’ he said in a statement.

While proceedings continue, marinakis proposed giannis moralis take his place as chairman of olympiacos, who last week held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the Champions League.