UEFA plays by the rules
Less than 24 hours after the Greek Football Association (EPO) decided that the Central Refereeing Committee cannot «use, now or in the future, individuals believed to have engaged in illegal practices,» the purge began, UEFA started to show an interest in the goings-on in Greek soccer. The committee last week put into force EPO’s decision, suspending the international assistant referee, A. Kolokas of the Piraeus association, since he is believed to be implicated in acts and actions that are against the law, soccer regulations and the sporting spirit and ideals. Kolokas had been drawn by lot to referee at the crucial first-division match between Aris and AEK on Sunday, April 7. A replacement, K. Dallas, was chosen by lot. Last Friday, UEFA asked EPO to send it the decisions by the sports magistrate on the cases related to the incidents at the March 24 match between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, where a referee was pushed and beaten by officials and fans. Since this is the first time soccer’s ruling body has asked to see sport judicial decisions, questions arise as to its intentions.
