Widespread match-fixing allegations in Greek football hardened on Monday as Olympiacos Owner & President Evangelos Marinakis "was charged by prosecutors with a series of alleged offences." Marinakis, a shipping tycoon who took a majority stake in the 42-time Greek champions in '10, "has been implicated by prosecutors probing allegations of match-fixing in a sweeping anti-corruption inquiry into Greek football." On Monday, "he became the highest-profile figure to be charged and must stand before magistrates to respond in June." Marinakis "denies the charges." The Olympiacos president "is among 16 people who are accused of involvement in a match-fixing ring and was charged alongside three referees, three other officials from the Hellenic Football Federation, two members of its Central Refereeing Committee and a fellow Super League club chairman" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/28). ... Saransk, in the Mordovia region of Russia, announced details of its post-World Cup 2018 legacy program saying that the 792-room "Tavia" hotel complex will be converted to affordable family apartments after the tournament. The "Tavia" hotel complex "is located close to the ground and is being built to accommodate fans during the tournament." The complex "will consist of eight high rise buildings" and will have 426 rooms in the 4-star category and 366 rooms in the 3-star category. After the tournament the buildings "will be converted to 200 apartments that will be used for social housing" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/28). ... Seventeen of the 20 Brasileiro Série A coaches met Monday at the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) HQ to discuss "worries that afflict coaches" with the governing body, especially in relation to the Copa Do Brasil. Brasileiro side Cruzeiro coach Marcelo Oliveira said, "It was an important and productive meeting. ... I hope it can happen again. I hope that we can create some solutions. We talked a little about everything" (LANCENET, 4/27).
