Defendant in Marinakis defamation case alleges match-fixing and threats to family

Irini Karipidis, CEO of Greek club Aris Thessaloniki, is facing a libel lawsuit from Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest. In court, she made serious allegations against Marinakis, including match-fixing and threats to her family, claiming he led a smear campaign against her. Karipidis argued that the case should not be heard in the UK, asserting that her claims about Marinakis are true and relate more to other countries. She described a violent confrontation following a match and alleged ongoing intimidation from Marinakis and his associates. Marinakis denies all allegations, claiming they are part of a coordinated effort to damage his reputation. He is seeking £5 million in damages. The court will decide soon whether to proceed with the case or dismiss it.