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Greece Hopes to Avoid FIFA Sanctions After Cup Cancellation

kontonisGreece is at risk of being barred from international football competitions after Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis decided to cancel the Greek Cup because of crowd violence.
The decision was made after the first leg of the semi-final between PAOK Thessaloniki and Olympiacos Piraeus on March 2 was abandoned due to a violent pitch invasion. Fans disputed a referee’s decision and started hurling flares and missiles before invading the pitch. The crowd was dispersed by riot police after skirmishes inside the pitch.
The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) that organizes the Greek Cup has protested the deputy’s decision to the Council of State, Greece’s highest administration court. The Council of State is expected to deliberate EPO’s appeal on Tuesday and decide whether the deputy has the right to cancel the competition.
FIFA and UEFA have asked for the Greek Cup to be reinstated by April 1, otherwise EPO will be suspended. This means that Greek clubs and the national team will be expelled from all international competitions. Representatives of the two football bodies will arrive in Athens on Wednesday to speak with the deputy minister and EPO.
Kontonis gave a press conference on Monday where he seemed determined to insist on his decision. “I took the initiative to speak today because the situation is very vague and many people perceive that as a weakness,” he said.
“What cannot be tinkered with further is a law which was already passed in parliament and is already being applied to the letter. For all the issues, however, I want to hear suggestions,” he added.
Regarding the legality of his decision to cancel the Cup, Kontonis said, “It was an entirely legal move and, as a measure, solves a serious problem, that of preserving public order.”
Kontonis also explained why he cancelled last week’s meeting between the presidents of Greece’s four biggest clubs, namely Olympiacos, PAOK, Panathinaikos and AEK.
Panathinaikos refused to take part and Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis was advised not to attend by the Athens sports prosecutor due to an ongoing investigation into a match-fixing probe in which the shipping magnate has been accused of involvement.

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