ATHENS: Vangelis Marinakis, owner and president of record Greek champions Olympiacos of Pireus, has been bailed to answer charges of matchfixing and extortion.

Marinaikos was spared appearing in person before an Athens court earlier this week to answer an initial summons after his lawyer, Claus Dimakopoulos, raised concerns about a possible ‘media circus’.

The 47-year-old is one of the world’s most influential shipping magnates, a former president of the Greek league and vice-president of the football federation.

He is among 16 people charged with offences in various categories of directing a criminal organisation, fraud, inciting corruption through matchfixing of events subject to betting and attempted blackmail.

The last charge relates to an explosion at a bakery owned by referee Petros Constantineas in 2012.

Also charged is the former legal adviser to the Greek federation, Theo Kouridi, a board member, Aristidis Stathopoulos, as well two members of the federation’s refereeing committee and three referees.

The owner of Levadiakos, John Kompotades, has also been charged and summoned to answer questions back in court in early June.

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