Match-fixing operation in Greek basketball: Federation President detained

Greek Basketball Federation President Vangelis Liolios was detained, along with a group of 5 people, on charges of match-fixing and bribery. Referees are among those detained.

After a three-month investigation by Athens prosecutor Apostolis Grammenos, investigators found evidence of match-fixing in first-division games and illegal betting.

Following the developments, Panathinaikos issued a strong statement. The club announced it will seek legal recourse to recover what was taken from it. The statement claimed that referees were assigned by certain individuals. It stressed that the club kept playing under referees who reportedly kept hundreds of thousands of euros in cash at their homes, and that this meant being part of a corrupt system.

One of those detained is Vasiliki Tsaroucha, who officiated the BKT EuroCup game between Turk Telekom and Lithuania's Siauliai. Tsaroucha was detained by authorities at Athens Airport upon returning from Turkey.

Remarks made by Panathinaikos's former head coach Ergin Ataman in an earlier interview criticizing Greek basketball have also resurfaced. Ataman had said what happened was not fair, and that while they accepted the defeat, Tyrique Jones had struck Kendrick in the locker room after the game. The 60-year-old coach parted ways with Panathinaikos in June. With the team, Ataman won 4 trophies: 1 EuroLeague, 1 Greek Super League and 2 Greek Cups.