Piraeus mayor testifies in soccer crime case

Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis testified before an investigative magistrate for three hours over his alleged involvement in a major case involving 167 defendants accused of being part of a criminal organization in Greek soccer. 

The charges are misdemeanors and relate to supporting and financing a criminal organization, as well as inciting sports-related violence. After testifying, he was allowed to leave, without any imposed restrictions.

Moralis is among the five senior officials of Olympiakos soccer club summoned by the judicial authorities over the case. The others are Olympiakos President Evangelos Marinakis and vice presidents Kostas Karapapas, Dimitris Agrafiotis, and Michalis Kountouris.

The involvement of the mayor of Piraeus is traced - according to the investigator - to the hiring of eight individuals, some of whom hold leadership positions in the...