“Rage and anger”: these are the feelings of the family Giorgos Lingeridis who lost his life after a deadly ambush hooligan outside the “Melina Merkouri” stadium in Renti, in December 2023.
The parents of the unfortunate police officer speak exclusively to “Manifesto” and describe what they are experiencing during the trial of the alleged criminal organization “Gate 7,” while they foreshadow developments related to the role of a high-ranking officer of the Greek Police on the fateful night of December 7.
“I want to hear the guilty verdict for the 147 defendants accused of belonging to the criminal organization of the Gate 7 hooligans, as well as for the five officials from the Olympiacos team who are charged with misdemeanors.”
The father of the unfortunate police officer, Mr. Thanasis Lyggeridis, emphasizes that he is seeking justice for his son’s murder, which will be achieved through the conviction of all those involved. As he notes, “when I enter the courtroom and see the defendants laughing, I feel rage.”
According to the mother of Giorgos Lingeridis, Eugenia Stratou, the defense attorneys have no ground to stand on, and all they are trying to do is find flaws in how the witness statements were taken—that is, whether the statements were given voluntarily and without pressure».
She further argues, “they are also trying to invalidate the credibility of the protected witnesses, on whom the case file relied heavily. Beyond that, there are also the videos collected by the police, as well as the transcribed conversations.”
“We Live in a Parallel Universe”
Ms. Eugenia Stratou describes in “Manifesto” the ordeal she and her husband are going through during the hearings in the specially designed courtroom at Korydallos Prison, where the trial is being held.
As she characteristically notes, “in addition to the defendants who laugh during the trial, various people who work as security guards at the Olympiacos stadium also come to testify. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the defendants entered the stadium for free, sold tickets “under the table,” collected money to support Gate 7, but, most importantly, they were smuggling smoke bombs and firecrackers into the stands. The security guards said they were completely unaware that these tickets were being sold outside, the illegal ones, through “tip-offs,” or that extortion was taking place at concession stands, that people were entering with smoke bombs and all that ammunition.”
As Ms. Stratou notes, even the prosecutor exclaimed, “What you’re describing doesn’t exist; we’re living in a parallel universe.”
“Who’s paying the lawyers?”
Sakis Lingeridis makes no secret of his indignation at what he calls the “provocative” attitude of the defendants in the trial. “They haven’t shown a shred of remorse,” he says, while making no secret of his concern about “who is paying the lawyers they’ve hired.”
As he notes, “Who is paying these lawyers? I can’t even walk past their door. They are the cream of the crop of lawyers in Piraeus and Athens.”
Mr. Lingeridis makes a particularly serious accusation as he names “picture” of those involved in his son’s murder a high-ranking officer of the Hellenic Police, who was serving in Piraeus when the murderous attack took place.
He claims that the hooligans “laid an ambush for the police officers” and wonders “why they didn’t station the squad at the stadium entrance, but moved them to the side, to a remote and poorly lit spot?”
As he points out: “This officer let three people leave the area; they were all leaders of Gate 7. They left under his protection. The police officers who were inside the stadium and noticed the attack asked twice to go help their colleagues, and he told them no. In the end, the police officers themselves decided to intervene.”
As Eugenia Stratou points out, “we have provided information about this officer. We expect the case to be transferred to the Piraeus Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether he bears criminal liability. This was the prosecutor’s suggestion.”
“They call Giorgos their own child”
Giorgos Lingeridis’s parents are finding the courage to continue the long and difficult journey to vindicate their son’s memory, supported not only by strangers who stand by them, as well as their son’s fellow officers.
“There are people who consider George their own son. They thank us for what he has done for the state and for their protection. George was dedicated to protecting citizens; they thank him for the work he has done. A few days ago, three strangers came to the trial because they heard us say that we’re on our own in the courts,” says his mother, adding, “We want the sentences handed down to be real, not for them to start working inside prison, studying, and getting out early. My own child, a giant, bled on the street, suffered, literally drained all his blood. My child, my own child, bled out on the street and suffered terribly. All his blood drained away. They cut off his leg. He deserved such a death. Why? What did he do to them? What did my child do to them”?
““Let the trial take place in the Court of Appeals”
The parents of Giorgos Lingeridis are demanding that the trial proceedings be moved to a more suitable courtroom.
As Ms. Stratou states, “the courtroom lacks even the basics, meaning one lawyer takes a document, another objects, and we have to look for a photocopier because there isn’t even one in the room. Two hundred lawyers stand up and take a photo of what’s being handed to the bench—that is, the copy. Where can you even tell people this and have them believe we’re in 2026?”
At the same time, he leaves criticizes the media’s coverage of the trial, with the exception of a few outlets, noting, “Isn’t that a shame? I mean, we’re now seeing shows that aren’t just news programs. They cover all kinds of topics—social, sports, political—and this trial doesn’t fit in anywhere? Why are they so afraid? Why are they hiding it?”
The Lingeridis family bitterly notes that no one from the Olympiacos FC management ever contacted them, “even out of basic humanity, as a club, since you claim to be the biggest club in Greece,” as Mr. Lingeridis states, and continues, “come out and offer your condolences. I’m not saying they should apologize to me. But failing to offer condolences to the family or to condemn the events demonstrates guilt. But they can’t because the defendants are their clients”…
