The head of the Hellenic Soccer Federation (EPO) and four of its board members will have to answer to criminal and misdemeanor charges after a prosecutor accused them yesterday of forgery and breach of faith.

The governing body’s president Vassilis Gagatsis, general secretary Yiannis Economidis, deputy president Vassilis Hadziapostolou, adviser Aristidis Stathopoulos and treasurer Giorgos Girtzikis were charged with forgery, breaching the state’s faith and colluding to breach faith.

The charges, filed by Maria Skeparnia, relate to alleged improprieties over the construction of training centers in the northern Greek cities of Florina and Xanthi and Aghios Cosmas in southern Athens.

EPO issued a statement saying that the charges against it would not hold up.

Gagatsis said a personal vendetta against him had spurred the accusations. He added that he had followed the instructions of Giorgos Lianis, the sports minister during the PASOK administration.