The possibility of “Grexit” from international football play appeared to greatly diminish on Tuesday after the relevant sports deputy minister said the government agreed with the country’s football federation (EPO) over a series of measures, including steps leading to a resumption of the cancelled 2015-2016 Greek Cup tournament.
The compromise between Minister Stavros Kontonis and EPO’s leadership came in the presence of FIFA’s representative, Cypriot federation president Costakis Koutsokoumnis.
FIFA had warned Athens and Kontonis personally this month that failure to allow a resumption of the Greek Cup tournament would lead to a ban on Greek national football teams’ play internationally.
Details of the compromise include EPO dropping its petition with a Greek high court against Kontonis’ decision. The Greek football federation will merely file an appeal with the minister’s office, with the latter promising to reverse the decision.
The Cup tournament was in the semi-final round when hooligan violence marred the PAOK Thessaloniki-Olympiacos Piraeus match. The Piraeus side was ahead 2-0 when play was stopped minutes before regular time expired.
EPO will also harmonize its legal and regulatory framework with FIFA’s bylaws.
The only questions remaining are how to ensure the smooth holding of the remaining games, the return match between Olympiacos and PAOK in the former’s pitch, and the two games of the other semi-final between AEK Athens and Atromitos Athens.
