EOK president Liolios halts basketball role as match-fixing case unfolds

Liolios steps back

Vangelis Liolios, president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK), told the investigating magistrate that he is ending all involvement in basketball until the procedural steps in the case are completed. The federation reported that Liolios was due to give his statement to the magistrate on Sunday, 25 October, in a case concerning the manipulation of matches in Greek basketball. The case has been described in the Greek press as the rigging of games, and no article in this cluster reports a verdict or a charge decision.

Club owner welcomes the step and proposes new leadership

Dimos Stasinopoulos, owner of KAE Amarousiou, said the aim of removing Liolios from Greek basketball had been achieved. He described the affair in strong terms and said the case is now in the hands of the justice system.

“The biggest scandal in the history of Greek sport is now in the hands of the justice system.”

Stasinopoulos proposed that Panagiotis Giannakis, a former basketball figure, lead a new EOK administration. He said Giannakis is a man whose history has become identified with the history of Greek basketball. He also called for referees to become professional, independent and free from outside influence, modelled on the NBA, the Spanish league and other advanced organisations abroad.

Federation pledges alertness and regular board meetings

The EOK board held an extraordinary session and then issued a statement saying it is on alert over the case. The statement said the federation is following developments closely and will take the appropriate institutional steps depending on what happens.

“We are in a state of absolute and continuous alertness, closely following the course of events, and depending on developments, the body will proceed immediately with the appropriate institutional actions.”

The federation said that since the first moment of the recent judicial developments, its board has operated with institutional commitment, composure and responsibility. The board now meets twice a day on a permanent basis so that the federation's daily activity continues without interruption and all championships and competitions run smoothly. The stated aims are protecting the sport, strict observance of the regulations and stability at this point in the affair.