Galery

2

1

Panic occurred among the Greek football circles after the bomb proposal of the President of the Hellenic Football Federation Sofoklis Pilavios, for the Federation to "close its doors”. The motives of Pilavios are associated with recent acts of hooliganism, which continue to engage professionals and lovers of the most popular sport. 

The proposal was accepted by the members of the Board. With 49 votes in favor, 7 against and one abstention, the Federation suspends its activity from next Monday for an indefinite period. In the next 15 days the management has the intention to request a dialogue with all sports institutions, political parties, even UEFA and FIFA, in connection with the violence and match-fixing. 

The proposal of Pilavios was initially agreed by both the Greek Super League and the Professional Football Association of B and C groups. In particular, the ones who voted "against" were the Union of football clubs in Drama, Iraklion, Kilkis, Larissa, Cyclades, Pella and Chania, the remaining 49 voted in favor. 

On his way out of the meeting the Chairman of the Federation Sofoklis Pilavios said: "The Federation closes its doors for 15 days in order for us to find a solution. However, when we decide to tell the truth, only two days will be sufficient. Football will either go forward or die." Two days ago in an official statement Pilavios confirmed that he had received threats to his life but this fact will not stop his efforts to strengthen the Greek football. So from next Monday temporarily suspended are all matches of the tournament, as well as transfers of players. 

Statement of the Hellenic Football Federation 

“The Annual General Meeting of the Union in HFF approved today by 49 votes in favor and 7 against, out of 56 votes, the report of the President Sofoklis Pilavios whereby: 

1. From Monday, June 6, 2011, suspended indefinitely are all HFF operations, 57 members of the Union until the conclusion of talks between the HFF and the government, political parties, Greek Super League, Football Association of Group B and C, the Pan Hellenic Union of Professional Footballers, and other international bodies (UEFA, FIFA). 

2. While the activities of the Federation are being terminated, the Governing Council of HFF is authorized to perform the necessary actions on the closure of the organization and procedure of the talks, as well as other issues on the agenda of the General Assembly. 

3. Subsequently, after the talks, the Emergency General Meeting of HFF will take final decisions on the future of professional and amateur football, based on these presented by the President of HFF in his speech." 

Detailed message of the Hellenic Super league 

“The Hellenic Super League is in favor of the proposal of the Chairman of HFF to suspend the activities of the HFF, until clarifying the fundamentals issues of football. 

The firm position of the organizing institution, established during recent meetings of the Governing Council and in public statements by its senior, is that it must provide all necessary conditions for the smooth conduct of the next Cup, even before its start. 

In all cases, chronic problems of football should be considered in their entirety and be resolved by consensus and concrete initiatives and actions, such as the ones proposed by the Hellenic Super League and all authorities. 

Based on the foregoing, the Hellenic Super League welcomes the stand in solidarity behind each act, however extreme it may be, which will ensure a healthy environment for the implementation of the new championship."