Greece’s relevant deputy sports minister on Wednesday appeared steadfast in his controversial decision to cancel this season’s Greek football cup tournament, which was in its semi-final stages, after hooligans stormed the pitch during the first leg of the PAOK Thessaloniki-Olympiacos Piraeus match last month.
A delegation of FIFA and UEFA officials, accompanied by Hellenic Football Federation’s (EPO) leadership, met with Minister Stavros Kontonis in Athens, with the specter of sanctions now hanging over Greek clubs and the national team.
Kontonis admitted that no compromise was found, with the Cup tournament still in limbo.
Nevertheless, he later told reporters that if EPO proceeds with what he called an “internal housecleaning”, i.e. the removal of EPO officials under judicial investigation, then the tournament can resume. He also said the federation would bear the responsibility for any sanctions due to his decision.
EPO, along with FIFA and UEFA, have warned the leftist Greek government that national football federations enjoy autonomy vis-à-vis governmental oversight.
The case is already before the Council of State, Greece’s highest administrative court, with EPO and several teams petitioning for a reversal of the decision.
