September 11 – The Greek Super League has written to the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) and the Referees Committee requesting the return of the international referees for the major derbies in the Greek championship.
“Unanimously the Board of Directors decided to send an institutional letter to EPO/KED, in order to appoint referees of the highest possible categories of UEFA from the top Leagues, based on UEFA Ranking, in all AEK, Aris, Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and PAOK matches between them, for the regular season and for the Playoffs,” said a Super League statement.
As well as calling for the return of overseas referees, the Super League clubs also demanded an independent financial audit of the EPO, complaining of the “exorbitant” sums paid to the federation by the league.
“Unanimously the Board of Directors decided to demand from the EPO a financial and management audit by an independent house for the exorbitant amounts that the Super League gives to the Federation. PAE AEK agreed with the decision in question, under the condition that it will be unanimously agreed to do a managerial audit in the Super League as well, which was not accepted. The right, based on the articles of association, to initiate an audit of the Cooperative’s finances was confirmed,” the Greek’s Super League said in a statement after its general meeting last week.
In May this year UEFA withdrew the use of foreign referees in Greek Super League playoff matches over fears for their safety after a series of incidents. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin sent a letter to Panagiotis Baltakos, president of Hellenic Football, expressing his concerns.
The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) is expected to send an official letter to UEFA requesting the European governing body to re-evaluate its decision and allow the return of elite international referees for the major Greek championship derbies.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1722044926labto1722044926ofdlr1722044926owedi1722044926sni@o1722044926fni1722044926