The Council of State, Greece’s highest administrative court, on Friday rejected a series of motions filed by the west Athens municipality of Nea Philadelphia-Halkidona against the construction of a new football stadium by AEK Athens, an iconic team that for decades was based in the district.

The ruling by the CoS plenum, taken in camera, means that works can proceed for the construction of a state-of-the-art complex on the site where the former field stood before being demolished in 2002.

The municipality had requested the annulment of a decision by the Attica prefecture administration which updated and modified zoning provisions for a park within the municipality and next to the new stadium site.

The municipality’s new mayor, a leftist SYRIZA cadre, along with a group of local residents claimed that the size of the entire complex in the given space was unconstitutional.