Report: EPL club owner accused of international scandal

In a lawsuit riddled with allegations of match-fixing, revenge and criminal activity, the accusations in the Evangelos Marinakis defamation case represent some of the most explosive claims to emerge in European football circles. The backdrop is a heated battle at the High Court in London, where Irini Karipidis, president and CEO of Greek club Aris Thessaloniki, is contesting Marinakis’ £5 million defamation suit, claiming that her refusal to entered a web of fear and threats. to meet Marinakis’ demands. As reported by Daniel Taylor of The AthleticsKaripidis claims that Marinakis’ influence extends far beyond football and into organized crime and intimidation.

Karipidis’ testimony portrayed Marinakis as a man who “openly bragged” about his criminal activities, which included smuggling sanctioned oil and fixing football matches. According to her, Marinakis’ quest for dominance was not limited to Nottingham Forest or Olympiacos, his Greek club, but also included attempts to fix Aris’ matches in Olympiacos’ favour. In one specific case, she alleged that before a match between Olympiacos and Aris in 2022, Marinakis “continually urged Theodoros (her brother) to ‘fix’ the match in favor of Olympiacos.” When Theodoros refused and insisted that “all matches would be played normally,” Marinakis reportedly stormed down and threatened: “You will not leave the field alive if you lose this match.”

Such accusations highlight the dark side of club management and raise deep questions about the ethical boundaries within football. Although these claims are denied by Marinakis, they are a stark reminder of how far some can go in the pursuit of sporting success. In another incident, Karipidis claimed Marinakis’ right-hand man Vassilis Roubetis made a chilling threat to her brother, saying: “I’ll blow you up in the Porsche you have outside with the sevens” – a reference to his license plate. This encounter caused Theodoros to flee to the safety of Aris’ dressing room.

Karipidis’ statement shows a vendetta that, she claims, did not end on the field but permeated the lives of her family. She claims her family’s safety was continually threatened by an “orchestrated campaign of intimidation.” As she tells it, hooded men began appearing outside her home, graffiti appeared on their walls, and there was talk of arson at her office. The most harrowing incident involved a confrontation at a traffic light, during which motorcyclists allegedly pinned her vehicle and threatened her and her child. “They knew everything about me,” she said, describing how she “collapsed in fear.”

The allegations indicate an intensification of the feud that goes far beyond the typical rivalry in sports. They suggest a calculated attempt to undermine not only her brother, but also the entire Karipidis family. The case shines a spotlight on the dark dynamics that can plague professional football, where personal revenge and power plays threaten to overshadow the spirit of the game.

While Karipidis describes her actions as a search for the truth, Marinakis paints a very different picture, characterizing Karipidis’ campaign as a carefully constructed smear operation designed to destroy his reputation. Marinakis claims her accusations are unfounded and constitute personal revenge. His legal team, led by David Sherborne, argues that if Karipidis’ quest was really about ‘bringing the truth’, her methods – such as creating a ‘fake Nottingham Forest disgruntled fan account’ and hiring a van to driving through Nottingham on match days – seems doubtful.

His rebuttal questions the integrity of her motives, suggesting that the campaign was less about the truth than about revenge. Marinakis has firmly denied the claims, stating that they have caused him “tremendous anxiety” and tarnished his name worldwide.

As the case progresses, the wider implications for football’s image and governance are undeniable. This feud highlights the extreme measures some would take to ensure the success of their club or undermine a rival. If there were any truth to these allegations, they would expose a disturbing underbelly in professional football, one that transcends rivalries and boundaries into the realm of organized crime and revenge.

The legal outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for both parties and potentially change public perception of football club ownership in Greece and beyond. It remains to be seen whether the court will throw out the case, or whether we will witness a full trial that could reveal deeper issues in the sport’s governance.

Our view – EPL index analysis

For those following the game, the allegations surrounding Evangelos Marinakis and Irini Karipidis may feel more like a crime drama than a sporting feud. Many fans are no doubt disheartened by the scale of the allegations – a reminder that the upper echelons of football are not always governed by fair play. When fans hear Karipidis’ claims about match-fixing and bribery in Greek football, it may reinforce their suspicions about the sport’s lack of transparency. After all, accusations of match fixing are nothing new, but claims of overt threats and links to organized crime add a disturbing new layer.

For the average supporter, the idea of ​​someone at the helm of a major club supposedly exerting such influence can be deeply disappointing. They may wonder whether Marinakis’ influence extends beyond Greece, especially given his ownership of Nottingham Forest. This kind of speculation creates a ripple effect, breeding skepticism and a sense that football governance, even in beloved leagues like the English Premier League, could be tainted.