Olympiakos denounces charges against club executives as politically motivated

Olympiakos soccer club has responded to the prosecution of its president and four senior officials in a Greek soccer-related criminal case, describing the charges as politically motivated.

Charges were filed on Tuesday against Olympiakos President Evangelos Marinakis, vice presidents Yiannis Moralis (who is also the mayor of Piraeus), Kostas Karapapas, Dimitris Agrafiotis, and Michalis Kountouris.

"The recent development, which has been anticipated for weeks by certain political and business circles, represents a new attempt to blackmail Olympiakos in order to weaken both the Olympiakos family and its president," the club said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Even the most naive person can understand that the timing is not accidental. This particular maneuver has political undertones and unfortunately manipulates the very institution of justice. Those...