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UEFA investigating Olympiakos match-fixing allegations

European football's governing body UEFA is investigating the Greek match-fixing allegations surrounding the man who is trying to buy Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Marinakis denies the charges and in a statement published on the Olympiakos website claimed public prosecutor Stamatis Daskalopoulos was biased against the perennial Greek champions and the case was politically motivated.

"The prosecutor's proposal will be judged by the Athens Appeals Court in the coming months," he said. "I expect a fair judgement by an impartial, independent and free judiciary."

However, Marinakis' club is also being investigated by UEFA, with the governing body contacting the prosecutor several months ago.

"UEFA can confirm that an investigation is ongoing over Olympiakos FC," a UEFA spokesman said. "Additionally, UEFA can confirm that an official request has been sent in order to get a copy of the report issued by the prosecutor, Mr Stamatis Daskalopoulos."

The spokesman added, however, that "no final decision" has been reached by the courts in Athens against either the club or its owner.

UEFA's renewed interest in the case, which has been the subject of heated debate in Greece since 2013, is significant because, unlike English Football League rules, UEFA does not need a conviction to take action against clubs or individuals -- the governing body can take sanctions if it is "comfortably satisfied" there is evidence of wrongdoing.

Olympiakos, Greek Super League winners for the last six seasons, were knocked out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds but have reached the Europa League's group stage.

The EFL declined to comment but it is clear that Marinakis would currently pass its "owners' and directors' test" because he has no unspent criminal convictions, just as Massimo Cellino was allowed to buy Leeds despite facing fraud charges of which he was subsequently convicted.

Marinakis, who spent £60 million on one of Greece's four main television channels last weekend, has been in talks with Forest's Kuwaiti owner Fawaz Al Hasawi for several months.

Forest, who finished 16th last season, are currently seventh in the Championship after five games. The two-time European champions have been outside England's top flight since 1999.