Greek court remands one Panathinaikos fan in custody, releases seven others in criminal organisation case
Eight of ten arrested Panathinaikos supporters testified in Athens today, denying charges of forming a criminal gang. One was ordered detained, seven were released with restrictions, and two alleged leaders will appear tomorrow.
Court appearances
Ten organised supporters of Panathinaikos were brought before an investigator at the Evelpidon courts in Athens on Monday, 6 July 2026. Eight of them gave their statements, while two others, described in the case file as holding leading roles, requested and received an extension until Tuesday to prepare their defence.
After the hearings, one of the eight was deemed a flight risk or danger and remanded in custody. The remaining seven were released, in some cases with restrictive conditions such as regular reporting to a police station or a ban on attending matches.
Charges
All ten face a heavy indictment that includes eight felony counts and eight misdemeanour charges. The felonies cover forming and joining a criminal organisation, possession and manufacture of explosives, robbery, arson, grievous bodily harm, and drug trafficking. Misdemeanours include disturbing public peace, brawling, property damage, and illegal weapons possession. Several of the acts are prosecuted under the aggravated provisions of Greece’s sports law.
The defendants’ statements
According to information from the court, all eight who testified denied the accusations. They rejected the existence of any criminal organisation and described themselves as ordinary fans, not organised hooligans. A 20-year-old defendant said he was at the match against Atromitos but stayed back because he was scared, and that the drugs found on him were for personal use. Another defendant questioned how the charge of criminal organisation could be substantiated and insisted he was not trafficking drugs. A 19-year-old claimed he was a victim of an attack, not a perpetrator, and that he had lied in an earlier statement out of fear of getting entangled.
Next steps
The two suspects who received a deadline extension are expected to testify on Tuesday, 7 July. After their statements, the investigator and prosecutor will decide whether they too should be detained or released with conditions. The case stems from a police investigation into a network that allegedly orchestrated attacks on rival fans and was involved in robberies, drug offences, and explosives.
