Marinakis slaps – CCTV captured Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis allegedly slapping Grigoris Dimitriadis during the Euroleague final in Athens on Sunday night, triggering a brawl at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Marinakis, 58, later appeared with a bruise near hi
A basketball final in Athens became a chaotic scene within seconds after a tense exchange between Evangelos Marinakis and Grigoris Dimitriadis turned physical.
The clash was caught on CCTV during the Euroleague final on Sunday night at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. The Nottingham Forest owner, dressed in a white shirt, walked down the VIP steps while locking eyes with Dimitriadis and appearing to whisper something into his ear.
Seconds later, Marinakis allegedly slapped Dimitriadis across the face, sparking a brawl in front of stunned spectators. Dimitriadis immediately responded with a punch. Security guards and aides moved in quickly to separate the pair. but the men continued screaming at each other from opposite sides of a barrier as staff struggled to restore order.
Olympiacos FC vice president Kostas Karapapas also appeared to be involved in the verbal exchanges, adding further heat to an already volatile moment inside the arena.
When the dust began to settle, the physical impact was visible. The shipping tycoon’s shirt was partially ripped during the scuffle, and Marinakis was later pictured with a bruise near his right eye.
Local reports framed the bust-up as the fallout from a bitter dispute between rival political and sporting factions during the high-profile match. Marinakis, 58, is one of Greece’s most controversial businessmen, with interests spanning shipping, media and football. He founded Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. owns Alter Ego Media. and holds controlling stakes in football clubs including Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League and Olympiacos in Greece.
The confrontation also sits against a longer record of legal and sporting controversies surrounding Marinakis. In 2012. he was accused of pressuring referee Petros Konstantineas to fix a match and then firebombing his bakery when Konstantineas refused. Prosecutors alleged Marinakis masterminded the operation and ordered the bombing of the bakery as retaliation and intimidation against the referee’s refusal. In 2021, he received a full acquittal.
He has also faced other allegations. In 2018, he was implicated in a heroin smuggling case, though he was later cleared.
Dimitriadis, meanwhile, is tied to Greek political circles as well. He resigned as advisor to the Prime Minister following a phone spyware scandal in 2022.
Even before anyone could leave their seats, the images from the arena ensured that a game-day rivalry didn’t stay on the court—and by the time security separated the men, what began as a private exchange at the VIP steps had already spilled into the public view.
Evangelos Marinakis Grigoris Dimitriadis Nottingham Forest Olympiacos Euroleague final Athens Peace and Friendship Stadium CCTV Kostas Karapapas brawl
CCTV says it all right? Wild.
So like… he slapped him then Dimitriadis punched him?? That’s insane but also this is why I don’t watch finals. They always act like it’s politics not basketball.
Wait, I thought Nottingham Forest is in England, how is this connected to political factions in Greece? Sounds like everybody’s just saying “politics” when rich people fight. Also the guy whispering into his ear like that matters… then somehow it turns into a bruise and a ripped shirt??
Bruise near his right eye?? That’s gonna be the real news here. I saw a clip on TikTok and it looked way more dramatic than “a tense exchange.” Security guards always show up late too, like they’re never ready. And if Olympiacos vice president was involved then it’s probably just money/Media stuff with Alter Ego Media and all that shipping tycoon nonsense.