Premier League set to investigate Forest owner over match-fixing and drug trafficking allegations

Nottingham Forest were promoted to the Premier League on Sunday

The Premier League are set to launch an investigation into Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over allegations of match-fixing and drug trafficking. Forest returned to the top-flight for the first time in 23 years after their 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the play-off final on Sunday but the league want to investigate the club's Greek owner's previous allegations.

Marinakis has been linked to several match-fixing and drug trafficking allegations

Marinakis was passed fit to own a club by the EFL before completing his £50m acquisition in 2018, despite being the centre of multiple investigations linking him to allegations of match-fixing and drug trafficking and has been charged several times in Greece, before being cleared. In 2019 Marinakis, who also owns Olympiacos, was charged with match-fixing and involvement in criminal gangs before being acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2021. Last year, a Greek judge ruled that there was no official evidence after he had been charged with smuggling heroin. UEFA also launched their own investigation into the allegations of match-fixing, but did not charge the 54-year-old. But as reported by the Daily Mail, with the threat of an independent regulator coming on the horizon, the Premier League's hierarchy are keen to implement stricter rules around their fit and proper owners' and directors' tests.

Will this affect Forest's promotion?

The Premier League contacted the EFL over the concerns and while it does not seem that he is in danger of breaching any of the disqualifying conditions, the league's legal team want to establish if there is evidence of Marinakis having been involved in behaviour abroad which would have resulted in a conviction in the UK. Any investigation won't lead to Forest being denied promotion as the owners' test allows provision for any disqualified shareholders to be given time to sell their stake in the club. Related links:

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