Giannis Alafouzos, the President of Panathinaikos, has called for UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, to be more proactive in addressing the longstanding issues afflicting Greek football. This appeal comes in the wake of a recent tragedy involving clashes between Greek and Dinamo Zagreb fans, resulting in the death of a Greek supporter.
The Greek football scene has been marred by a history of violence, corruption, and match-fixing scandals, with numerous attempts at reform yielding limited progress. The recent fatality of an AEK Athens supporter added to the woes of the sport, prompting a government-led meeting involving the country's major clubs, including Panathinaikos, AEK, PAOK, and Olympiakos Piraeus, along with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
Ceferin stressed the urgency of addressing the 'cancer' within Greek football, prompting the Greek government to enact measures such as restricting fan groups and entrusting match-day security to private security firms under police supervision.
Alafouzos emphasized that while each federation is independent, it is crucial for UEFA to engage with Greek football's issues actively. He noted that UEFA's involvement in a small country's football problems is a positive sign of their concern. The absence of the Greek FA president at the government-led meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was notable.
Alafouzos also welcomed the decision to have police oversee stadium security instead of private firms. He highlighted the limitations of private security regarding body searches and ticket verification.
The aftermath of the clashes saw over 100 individuals, mainly Croatian citizens, facing felony charges and detainment as they await trial for their involvement in the incident that led to the death of Michalis Katsouris near the AEK stadium.
Amid his team's Champions League victory, Alafouzos recognized that combating endemic corruption is a fundamental step towards improving Greek football. He cited match-fixing allegations, attacks on referees, and manipulation of the Greek FA.
With regard to fan attendance, only the top four teams managed average crowds exceeding 10,000 last season. Alafouzos asserted that addressing corruption within the Greek Football Federation is crucial to resolving the sport's challenges.
The Greek Super League season is set to begin, and Prime Minister Mitsotakis has warned clubs about potential stricter rules if violence persists, including the potential exclusion of Greek clubs from European competitions.
Alafouzos believes that the government and UEFA must contribute significantly to remedying the situation. He underscores the necessity for UEFA's involvement for government actions to be effective.
