February 26 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (pictured left) has signed an agreement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (pictured right) aimed at cleaning up Greek football, which for years has been marred by corruption, match-fixing, attacks on referees and crowd trouble.
Čeferin, who was accompanied on a trip to Athens by FIFA Vice-President Greg Clarke, UEFA National Associations Division Director Zoran Laković, and other high-level delegates, signed a declaration of intent underlining a common commitment to safeguarding sporting values in Greece.
“We’ve taken a political decision to clean up Greek football for good and we are very much looking to your assistance in proceeding down that path,” Mitsotakis was quoted as telling Ceferin. The declaration of intent “demonstrates our commitment to make significant improvements and upgrading Greek football,” Mitsotakis added.
For his part, Ceferin left no doubt as to the urgent need to improve the reputation of Greek football.
“Swift action is needed from all stakeholders – the national association, clubs, leagues and government – to improve the image of football in Greece,” he said. “If all the parties co-operate together, progress and improvements can be made in priority areas such as safety and security and the fight against match-fixing.”
According to local reports, UEFA intends to produce a report within three months on ways to improve the administration of Greek football.
Match officials went on strike in 2018 and threatened a strike in January after attacks on referees and their homes and an attempt by Olympiakos to sue five referees.
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