After the wild reaction of many teams and the general appeal of the sport community the possibility to postpone the premiere of the Greek championship just a few hours before the start is already being studied!
The sponsor found himself in the middle of negotiations that lasted all night, with the TV channel Nova, which owns the television rights of the Greek Cup, as in the contract with the football companies there is a penalty of 4 million euro, which the teams will have to pay given that it is their fault that the championship has not started.
The reaction of "Panathinaikos'
Earlier "Panathinaikos' and 'Xanthi' spread messages, in which they expressed their opposition against the decision of the Super League to start the championship over the weekend and despite the fact that three of the 16 teams that will participate in the championship are not yet known after the drop out of "Olympiacos" - Volos and "Kavala", but also (the first) trial victory of "Iraklis" that sends "Asteras"-Tripoli (temporarily?) in the B group.
The management of "Panathinaikos" points out the following: "The management of "Panathinaikos” has already expressed its position in its Communication dated from Wednesday, 24/8, both regarding the procedure for spreading the message of the Super League for the start of the championship and regarding the point of the issue , a position supported by the management of the "Skoda", Xanthi.
We really understand what are the considerations that prompted the start of the championship, but sometimes it is preferable that the provision of the basic principles of transparency and fairness take precedence over commercial or other needs.
In any case, the management of "Panathinaikos" has taken all necessary measures to ensure that the team is ready to compete on Sunday, provided that the program currently set is followed. But it is clear that the developments of events has changed significantly the environment in which decisions were taken earlier."
The fiery reaction of "Xanthi"
Even more fiery was the reaction of the management of 'Xanthi: "We were surprised to learn just now that besides the two teams that will not participate in the 1st round, now a third one is added - "Asteras"-Tripoli, which was asked not to compete because following to the actions of "Iraklis" it is not clear whether "Asteras"-Tripoli will remain in the Super League, whether "Iraklis" will remain in the Super League, or if some other team in Group B will take their place.
Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the championship starts on Saturday because it is not possible that three of the 16 teams that will participate are not yet known.
It is true that earlier the Super League voted for championship to start on the 27th of August but since then the situation has changed dramatically and the conditions are totally different. EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT.
The right thing to do is for NOVA, which is the main factor in the puzzle of the Super League and of the professional football, to go and officially make its position known to the sporting public because NOVA is the first to ask for justice, equality and reliability in order for the product it sells and is called football to have a public response, and to declare whether it accepts a delay of 15 days until things are clarified without taking advantage of the penalty of 4 million euro against the Super League.
It is absolutely necessary that each management - member of the association sends a fax to the Super League by tomorrow, until 12 pm, in which it should indicate in written whether or not it wants to start a championship, in which not only two but even three of the teams that will participate are not know, provided that NOVA will cancel the penalty of 4 million euro, because "force majeure".
At least that on the one hand the association and each of its member, and on the other hand also NOVA, two of the significant major players, but not the only ones, (the Greek Football Federation is the most important and largest party in charge), will assume their responsibility to the public and to the fans of the sport.
Note:
1. The General Director of the Superleague Patrick Komninos should take assume the responsibility to notify each member of the association separately for the above decision, for them to send faxes to the Super League expressing their position, having in mind, although hypothetically, that NOVA has canceled the penalty of 4 million euro.
2. The management of "Skoda", Xanthi firmly believe that Forthnet considering the publications, even now while these lines are written, will remove the penalty of 4 million euro for the period in question."
One ... crippled Cup
Before a "crippled" Cup had to start in the unique for the world position in which 14 of the 16 teams that will participate are known, but also with the probability for another one to be changed as "Iraklis" seeks to take the place of "Asteras" -Tripoli!
A championship including 16 teams ends after 30 rounds. Perhaps in other countries but not in Greece, where tournaments began not in the stadiums but in the courtrooms.
The Superleague rushed to set the beginning of the championship without having signed the relevant announcement of the participating teams! The Greek Football Federation, which determind the referees for a championship, which announcement has not been signed, is also on the verge of violation!
At the same time litigations continue between the teams that drop out either because of the scandal around the pre-arranged games like "Olympiakos"- Volos and "Kavala", or because of the use of false certificates, such as "Iraklis" for example.
Also, lawsuits are expected to increase as football prosecutor has still not started dealing with the majority of cases relating to last year's championships and what happened behind the scenes. Then follow the complaints, arbitration courts and so on.
In the "crippled" and ... vulnerable from a legal point of view Cup, however, the ball must be on the field on Saturday (27/8), even if only 5 games are played as now only 13 teams are eligible to participate. "Οlimpiakos", "ΑΕΚ" and "Panetolikos" have no rival as "Asteras" temporarily lost its place after the rehabilitation of "Iraklis" and the issue of the replacements of "Olympiacos"- Volos and "Kavala" is not yet resolved ( places at which are aiming "Larissa" and "Panseraykos" on the one hand, and "Levadiakos" and "Doxa"- Drama on the other, if ultimately it is decided that teams from group B should replace them).
Thus anyway, based on the program for the first round the games of "Olympiakos" and "AEC", which had to play against "Kavala" and "Olympiakos", Volos, respectively, can not be held, as well as the game of the rookie "Panetolikos" with "Asteras"-Tripoli. Comic but also tragic situations in the Greek football in the year of our Lord 2011 ...
Program of the premiere
Saturday 27/8
ΟFI - Αtromitos (19.15, novasports3)
PΑS Ioannina - Αris (21.30, novasports2)
Sunday 28/8
Kerkyra - Panathinaikos (19.30, novasports2)
Panionios - Εrgotelis (19.30, novasports3)
PΑΟΚ - Xanthi (21.30, novasports1)
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