Bribery case in second division
The second division in Greek soccer, now named the Football League, was rocked by an allegation made by Trikala goalkeeper Christos Pouris that a Levadiakos official offered to bribe him ahead of the match between the two sides yesterday. Reports on the radio and the Internet yesterday suggested that the Trikala player informed the Thessaly club’s administration that he received a telephone call from someone acting on behalf of Levadiakos, whose name was not made known last night, who allegedly asked him to put on a below average performance. The bribe offered to the goalkeeper amounted to 30,000 euros, Pouris claimed, as well as a promise that he would be transferred to a Super league club. The 24-year-old player and Trikala president Vangelis Plexidas reported the affair to police authorities in the city ahead of the match. A report that Levadiakos owner Yiannis Kombotis was held for questioning was refuted by the Livadia club. On the pitch Trikala proved really fired up as it thrashed Levadiakos 4-0, with Pouris playing the full 90 minutes. Panetolikos became the only side to have two wins in two games, beating Agrotikos Asteras 1-0 away yesterday.
