Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest FC and Greek club Olympiacos, will face a High Court libel trial in March 2027 over allegations he claims were defamatory. The case involves a rival Greek football club chair and an Israeli political consultant, with damages sought between £1 million and £5 million.
Mr Marinakis is suing Eirini Karypidou, chair of Aris Thessaloniki, for defamation and unlawful means conspiracy over what his lawyers describe as “false” allegations. He is also taking legal action against Ari Harow and his company Sheyaan Consulting, alleging they participated in a “smear” campaign that published defamatory content online.
The allegations were disseminated between November 2023 and March 2024 via a website, social media posts on X, YouTube videos, and mobile billboards driven around Nottingham Forest’s City Ground stadium on match days. The content was later taken down.
On Wednesday, Mr Justice Johnson ruled on preliminary matters, including the “natural and ordinary meaning” of the statements and whether they were fact or opinion. He found them defamatory but stressed the ruling does not decide the case’s outcome. A 10-day trial is scheduled to begin on March 8 2027.
Mr Marinakis has reportedly been exonerated of the allegations in Greece. A further hearing in the libel claim may take place later this year.
