In the wake of PAOK and Xanthi both being found guilty of multi-ownership, the Greek government has proposed the removal of the relegation punishment.
Yesterday, the Committee of Professional Sport recommended that PAOK and Xanthi should be relegated from the Super League, with both clubs having been found guilty of a multi-ownership violation. PAOK owner, Ivan Savvidis, had been accused by Olympiacos of owning Xanthi through family members, an allegation which was subsequently backed up by the Committee of Professional Sport. A majority of 4-1 found PAOK and Xanthi guilty of breaking the law.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the government has revealed that it will make a change to the legislation, removing the punishment of relegation for multi-ownership. Instead, a deduction of 5-10 points from the standings will be the maximum punishment available to the involved clubs.
Nevertheless, after this development became known, the SYRIZA party immediately demanded that the current Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport, Lefteris Avgenakis, resigns from his role. SYRIZA also requested a roll call vote on the law amendment.
It has now been confirmed that a voting process will take place at 13:00 on Wednesday concerning the approval of the legislation change. It is worth noting that Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will miss the vote due to being in Paris, France.
Reports have suggested that KINAL and the Communist Party of Greece will abstain from voting.
Panionios, who was punished with a six-point deduction at the start of the season for failing to obtain a Super League license due to financial problems, have demanded that they are now given those six points back, accusing the government of favouring PAOK and Xanthi.
At the moment, reigning PAOK occupies first place of the Super League with 52 points from 21 games, while Xanthi sits in the seventh spot with 27 points on the board.
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