Panathinaikos fails to get points deducted back
Panathinaikos failed on Wednesday in an appeal to the soccer federation to overturn a punishment for crowd violence at last month’s abandoned Athens derby. This has rubber-stamped Olympiakos’s crowning as Greek champion.
Panathinaikos has been docked three points and Olympiakos awarded a 3-0 win following the events at the March 18 match, meaning 10 points now separate the two clubs with three matches remaining, the appeals committee of the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) said.
“The HFF has accepted the punishment handed down by the Super League…» it declared in a statement.
Panathinaikos will also start the 2012/13 season with two points deducted as part of the toughest sanctions ever imposed by the Super League.
The strict penalties followed a new sports law passed by the government in February to clamp down on soccer violence.
Panathinaikos did manage to get part of their penalty reduced on appeal with the Athens club ordered to play three matches behind closed doors instead of four, while their fine was slightly reduced to 212,000 euros from 252,500.
[Reuters]
