Greek minister says ministry will back no candidate in basketball federation vote

Ministry stays out of the vote

Greece's deputy sports minister, Giannis Vroutsis, met Panagiotis Fasoulas at his office on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Fasoulas, a former international basketball player, has announced he will stand for the presidency of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) in the election set for 20 December 2026. The meeting focused on that vote, on financial and management checks, and on restoring trust in the sport after a scandal over manipulated matches that broke in the days before. Vroutsis told Fasoulas the ministry will not back any candidate or take part in the electoral process, while stressing that the state keeps a duty to check legality, transparency and accountability. The General Secretariat for Sport later issued its own account of what was said.

“We do not support and will not support any candidate. We do not interfere in the electoral process.”

Vroutsis added that respecting the independence of sports federations does not mean the state stays passive. The state, he said, must carry out the checks the law provides without replacing the courts or the federations' own bodies.

Four steps taken by the ministry

Vroutsis listed four steps the ministry has taken since complaints about EOK's management came to light. First, it forwarded the complaints to the competent prosecuting authority so the judiciary could examine them. Second, it asked the relevant audit bodies for urgent financial and management checks and temporarily suspended the planned grants. Third, it called the EOK board to take the required institutional steps, and the board implemented the agreed roadmap, which sets the election for 20 December 2026 in person. Fourth, the e-Kouros digital platform is being used to ensure that only lawfully constituted clubs and their legal representatives take part, which in EOK's case covers 762 clubs that also meet the competitive requirements.

Vroutsis also put national team commitments first. He told Fasoulas that keeping all Greek basketball competitions running and supporting the national teams is the ministry's priority, and that international players are preparing for important matches scheduled for November 2026.

“Our priority was and is the uninterrupted operation of all Greek basketball competitions and the support of our national teams.”

Fasoulas's response and call for talks

Fasoulas told Vroutsis he was worried about the damage the scandal has done to the sport. He presented proposals centred on transparency and restoring the sport's credibility, and he welcomed the minister's push for in-person elections and the financial and management audit. After the meeting he spoke to reporters and set out what he wants from the candidates.

“I invite everyone who wants to stand as a presidential candidate to hold a discussion on all matters concerning basketball.”

The meeting he proposed is set for Friday, 13 November 2026, at 12:00 in the Giorgos Kolokythas hall at the federation's offices.

Key dates in the dispute

The dates now on the table run from the ministry meeting to the federation vote. The discussion proposed for 13 November is the next fixed date after the ministry talks, and the in-person election follows on 20 December 2026.