Greek tragedy adds a farcical chapter as Spanish ref in the firing line for cup final

By Paul Nicholson

May 11 – At the end of a season of unprecedented turmoil and allegations of corruption that have pointed to matchfixing and match manipulation within the highest administrative levels of the Greek game, the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) have finally decided to fly in a non-Greek referee for the final match of its season.

Too little too late? Certainly the decision is viewed within Greek football with more than a small amount of cynicism and ridicule, coming after the Greek Super League has completed and the Champions League qualifying places decided.

The Greek cup final, while not meaningless in terms of local honours, will have no impact on the financially-important European clubs qualifying places. With those places decided, so the argument goes, why not have a match that is refereed by an independent?

The call for international referees to take charge of the top tier of the Greek game was infact made by a number of Greek clubs at the start of the season, nervous of the integrity of Greek referees who they felt would be too easily ‘bought’ by the clubs with most influence within the HFF.

The appointment of Spanish ref David Borbalan suggests that the HFF is agreeing with this assessment, but only after the big prizes have been won – none, unsurprisingly, going to those that suggested non-Greek referees back at the season start.

Year-long presence and visits of FIFA appointed observers/administrators and UEFA delegations have failed abysmally to eradicate the suspicions in a season that even saw the owner of PAOK, Russian-Greek Ivan Savvidis, enter the pitch, bearing a sidearm, to threaten the referee at a key end of season game against AEK.

This was perhaps the highpoint of a season of chaos that surpassed even Greece’s ability to self-inflict wounds on its domestic football.

Savvidis was subsequently banned for three years (would he have got more if he had actually shot the referee?) and PAOK was docked three points. It has been a season of outrageous decisions for Greek football fans both on the field by referees, and off it by football’s administrators.

Savvidis, a billionaire who in the past has had the ear of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has friends in high Greek political places and is widely reckoned to be a controlling force behind the HFF’s administration (he described the HFF president Gramenos as “our man” on Greek television). Suspicions are that his ban has made little difference to his ability to manipulate Greek football. His team, PAOK, finished second in the Super League, six points behind AEK and seven ahead of Olympiakos.

Borbalan will doubtless be flag-waved through as part of the clean-up taking place in Greek football, though cover-up would probably be a better description.

One of Europe’s most experienced officials, he takes charge of Saturday’s game between AEK and PAOK, aided by two Spanish assistant referees. He has officiated in La Liga games for the past 14 seasons and has been an international referee since 2010.

He is due to retire (perhaps fortunately for him) at the end of the season to concentrate on the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in La Liga.

Borbalan was appointed by Portuguese Vitor Melo Pereira, who works in the EPO’s refereeing department, appointed by FIFA to run things smoothly and the right way. Certainly he has done that for one part of his volatile constituency.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711714919labto1711714919ofdlr1711714919owedi1711714919sni@n1711714919osloh1711714919cin.l1711714919uap1711714919

Further reading: http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2018/03/12/gun-slinging-paok-owner-savvidis-threatens-referee-greek-super-league-clash/

Savvidis links leave a fiery trail of intimidation, political influence and burnt cars