Greece’s basketball chief held in match-fixing probe
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Hellenic Basketball Federation president Vangelis Liolios will appear before a magistrate for testimony on Oct 22. Arrest warrants have also targeted three referees, a referee adviser and a former athlete.
PHOTO: EPA
ATHENS - Greece’s basketball federation chief was held on Oct 21 in a broad match-fixing probe going back a decade and involving several suspects, state agency ANA said.
Vangelis Liolios will appear before a magistrate for testimony on Oct 22, according to the agency.
The warrants issued by a sports prosecutor also target three referees, a referee adviser and a former athlete, ANA said.
One of them is an active Euroleague referee who was arrested at Athens airport, Greek media reports said.
The Euroleague was contacted for comment.
Greek media reported that police allegedly found over €800,000 (S$1.1 million) in cash at the home of one of the suspects.
The Greek federation in a statement said its governing board had held an emergency meeting “to brief its members on the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the basketball sector”.
“The case will be monitored continuously, through official announcements and procedures,” it added.
ANA said around 50 games in the Greek top flight and lower leagues were under investigation, down to youth and school championships, as far back as 2016.
Athens giants Panathinaikos - who have repeatedly criticised Liolios’ management - in a statement on Oct 21 said they would take legal action to reclaim lost titles.
Panathinaikos “plays in games with referees who are being prosecuted for felonies, with referees who keep hundreds of thousands of euros in cash in their homes, it stays and plays with referees who do not respect the sport, it stays and plays in a rotten system,” the club said.
A paediatrician by trade, Liolios was elected federation chief in 2021.
The 59-year-old was previously the chairman of Promitheas Patras, and had earlier founded prominent Greek coffee chain Coffee Island.
On his watch, Promitheas Patras have won successive promotions since 2012, reaching the top flight in 2016.
The investigation reportedly began after a formal complaint in April by Athens club Maroussi, whose coach previously worked for Liolios.
State TV ERT said eight witnesses in total have testified, including two who allegedly admitted to taking money in return for clemency.
Maroussi coach Ilias Papatheodorou had previously coached Promitheas Patras for two seasons until 2025. REUTERS