Athens:Greece has temporarily suspended state funding to the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) and initiated financial audits in response to a match-fixing and bribery investigation involving the federation's president, Vangelis Liolios.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, Sports Minister Yiannis Vroutsis has ordered the suspension of legally mandated subsidies and requested an extraordinary financial and management audit for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The General Directorate of Financial Audits of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance will conduct the audit, while a separate review will be carried out by the National Transparency Authority.
The ministry has stated that match manipulation could lead to financial penalties for sports organizations, along with criminal and disciplinary sanctions, including funding restrictions from gambling revenue distribution. Greek police reported that six individuals were arrested under judicial warrants for suspected bribery and unlawful interference in basketball matches. The arrests took place in coordinated operations across Attica, Achaea, and Katerini, with one suspect surrendering voluntarily.
During the operations, authorities seized £931,463 ($1.08 million) in cash, 14 mobile phones, six laptops, and other electronic devices from the suspects' residences. Liolios, who denies any wrongdoing, has been granted additional time to prepare his defense and is expected to appear before an investigating magistrate on Sunday, October 25, alongside businessman Giorgos Mavraganis.
Former referee Petros Papapetrou is scheduled to present his defense on Friday, October 23, while three other defendants, including EuroLeague referee Vasiliki Tsaroucha, are set to appear on Monday, October 26. Investigators are looking into five alleged bribery incidents involving payments to referees, with claims of £5,000 ($5,600) paid in certain cases. It is also alleged that Liolios was aware of the arrangements, a claim he denies.
In addition, investigators are examining messages that allegedly contained advance information on referee appointments. Papapetrou has denied any wrongdoing and stated he can account for the £820,000 reportedly found at his home during a police search. The investigation covers approximately 50 basketball games played between 2016 and 2026, spanning professional, youth, and school competitions.
Greek basketball legend Panagiotis Giannakis has expressed his desire to testify in support of the prosecution. His lawyer, Andreas Mitsainas, stated that Giannakis, referred to as The Dragon, intends to clarify allegations related to a March 2018 game between Faros and Aris, where he was ejected following two technical fouls. Giannakis plans to address the allegations on Monday, October 26, after reviewing the case file. Mitsainas remarked that the situation casts a "dark cloud" over Greek basketball.