Relegation on the cards for AEK
The volleyball league has been thrown into turmoil after a sports judge’s decision to deduct 63 points from AEK on the A1 table for its debts to former players, sending the Athens club to minus 43 points. The league has expressed its dismay at the severity of the penalty and the uncertainty this has created for the league, as it means that if there is no reversal of the decision on appeal, AEK will be automatically relegated and not Foinikas Syrou, which had been bottom of the table until last week’s decision. It also means that, as things stand, Foinikas and Kifissia will have to battle it out for a place in next season’s A1 league in a playoff. Foinikas defeated AEK last Saturday at home with a 3-0 score since the Athens side was clearly affected by the news. Leader Panathinaikos thrashed Lamia 3-0 on Friday but EA Patras remained one point behind it with its 3-1 victory at Kifissia on Sunday. Olympiakos dropped yet another point at Panellinios, winning 3-2 on Saturday, while Iraklis defeated crosstown rival PAOK 3-0 yesterday. Meanwhile, in the Thessaloniki derby on Saturday Aris saw off Apollon Kalamarias 3-1. Two Greek sides are involved in European action tomorrow as Olympiakos travels to Moscow to face local Dynamo for the Champions League Playoff 6 first leg, while EA Patras is hosting Belgium’s Noliko for the second leg of the CEV Cup Challenge Round, hoping to overturn its 3-1 loss in the first leg.
