Soccer cleanup
The evidence, based on a series of phone taps, which was aired late on Sunday during a television program hosted by investigative journalist Makis Triantafyllopoulos produced shocking revelations about the ailing state of Greece’s soccer: game-rigging, bribery of referees, involvement of administrative officials; all clearly emerged from the abundant evidence. In a much discussed interview with Kathimerini in the spring of 2000, former Sports Minister Giorgos Floridis openly referred to the existence of a «soccer mafia,» which bribes or blackmails referees and soccer club owners in order to get the desired results in all divisions. The president of the association of referees, the legal adviser of Olympiakos soccer club and former Olympiakos official Thomas Mitropoulos have emerged as the leaders of this network. Olympiakos President Socrates Kokkalis seems to be the main beneficiary. Floridis’s interview then caused turmoil inside the Greek Professional Football Association (EPAE) and the Greek Football Association (EPO) and finally resulted in a change in the way in which referees were selected, raising hopes that the situation would improve. However, the refereeing at the recent game between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos soccer clubs dealt these expectations a serious blow. Furthermore, more than a year has passed since Floridis tabled a bill aiming to purge soccer of corruption (Floridis no longer holds the post of sports minister) but the legislation still has to be passed by Parliament. It’s enough to make anyone wonder why the government has not taken action against the perpetrators. It is not hard to see that any further delay reinforces the impression that the government is itself in some way caught up in the interests of this racket. It is common knowledge that soccer, on top of being a popular sport, is also a powerful means for manipulating the masses for political and financial gain. Those in control do not balk at stirring up violence. This has recently broken out in a thoroughly brutal and sordid fashion. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday denounced the violent episodes as «sordid, criminal and unacceptable.» But no measures are to be seen. The wrongdoers are known to everyone. There is only one question: Does the government have the requisite strength and will to break up this racket or not? Nothing less will do.
