Evangelos Marinakis, the owner and Chairman of national champions Olympiacos (pictured), is among 16 defendants in an investigation into Greek match-fixing who has been called to give evidence to the Council of Misdemeanours in Athens. However, Marinakis has been given until the beginning of June before he will be questioned by anti-corruption magistrate Giorgos Andreadis, according to local reports.

According to keirradnedge.com and sources in the local media, Marinakis was spared appearing in person before the Council on Monday to answer an initial summons after his lawyer, Claus Dimakopoulos, raised concerns about a possible ‘media circus’. Giannis Kobotis, who owns top-tier side Levadiakos, did give evidence to the court on Monday. After hearing his testimony, prosecutors banned Kobotis and two others charged from all involvement in the football industry until after the case has been resolved, reported local media.

In October 2014, Greek broadcaster Skai TV published documents from the Council of Misdemeanours in Athens outlining the decision to launch a preliminary investigation into 16 individuals for a series of alleged offenses centred on match-fixing in Greek football. In December the Guardian reported that charges had been brought against those same individuals.

The charges against the 16 are understood to include participation and management of a criminal enterprise, blackmail, inciting an explosion endangering human life and inciting corruption through match-fixing of events subject to betting. In addition to the two Superleague club owners, those charged include three referees, three other officials from the Greek football association (EPO) and two members of its Central Refereeing Committee.

Those charged are due to appear before prosecutors to offer explanations on 20 August. The EPO has not issued a statement on the matter.