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Anastasia Balezdrova

Names, data, telephone calls and roles between the involved and accused of involvement in the organization of fixed football matches comprise the report of the prosecutor Poppy Papandreou with a volume of 130 pages. Among them are the names of well-known owners of teams like AEK, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. The recorded phone calls revealed that the famous old "king" of AEK Makis Psomiadis not only fixed matches, but also delivered banned stimulants to football and basketball players. The particular businessman is hiding and the police are searching for him.

Meanwhile, the main headquarters of the Greek police ordered the conduct of administrative investigation of an officer who had spoken by telephone with one of those involved in the case of illicit betting and match fixing.

GRReporter contacted a Greek sports journalist who told us when the investigation started, how the individuals involved were discovered and what the future of Greek football is after the revelations. He wished to be anonymous because the investigation of the case is still running.

Could you tell us when and how the fixed matches began to be unraveled?

This whole thing began last October when UEFA sent the Secretary of Sports Panagiotis Bitsaksis folders containing data for matches identified as "doubtful" or "corrupt". Subsequently, the folders were handed over to prosecutor Poppy Papandreou, who began to investigate. She sought the cooperation of all competent authorities, especially the National Intelligence Service. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art device, the so-called 'super' detector that is able to record 500 phone calls simultaneously and to detect the tapped persons, and to trace data leaking on the Internet. Findings the authorities reached with this equipment provided the evidence, which made it possible to compile the case file and make charges against those involved.

Since when does the phenomenon of match fixing in Greece date back in fact? It should be noted that the findings did not surprise anyone.

The sports circles know the fact that Greek football is corrupt. So far, however, the necessary data were not available and perhaps political will, to purge. We see the available data and political will now. That is why the participation of many famous and "heavy" names of functionaries of the Greek football are revealed, which no one suggested in the past that could be announced let alone indicted.

What could be the consequences? The Minister of Culture and Sports has not ruled out the football championship to begin later than scheduled.

The case has two sides. The first is the criminal and the second is the sports side. The first is within the responsibility of criminal justice, and the second – within the sports justice. Therefore, we are talking about two different things. It is not excluded criminal justice to rule out harsh sentences in future, and the sports one not to impose the necessary penalties.

Of course, the sports management is concerned about the funding from the State lottery OPAP, which is the only state sponsor of professional sports in Greece as well as the decisions it will take.

The state can not intervene directly in the Greek football, because it is self-governing. If the authorities still do so this will result in fines from UEFA. This time, however, the European and Hellenic Football Federation and state bodies have the common intention to cleanse the "field". This is an opportunity discussed not only by the football federation, but also by the members of the sports management.

Do you think these events could lead to restriction of hooliganism by fans?

This separate issue and it should not be mixed with the criminal persecution against 85th suspects involved in the doubtful or fixed matches in the Greek football championship. We are talking about specific allegations made against specific individuals for which data exist that are involved in illegal betting or in the rigging of the matches.

Hooliganism is a separate thing that could be removed only if the competent authorities decide to deal with it with the same concern. This phenomenon has been annoying the Greek football for years.