By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – The deepening impasse between Greece and football’s governing bodies has intensified after Greek authorities angrily rejected an ultimatum from FIFA and UEFA to stop interfering with football or risk being thrown out of international competition.
Following continuing crowd trouble, the Greek government has put together new legislation in an attempt to crack down on violence at sports events.
FIFA and UEFA have already contacted the Greek authorities to make it clear they have strict rules about the independence of member federations and on Wednesday both bodies sent follow-up correspondence reiterating that stance.
A fax signed by FIFA and UEFA general secretaries Jerome Valcke and Gianni Infantino warned that “should the bill be adopted as proposed, we will have no option but to refer the case to the relevant FIFA and UEFA bodies for immediate sanctions, including the suspension of the Greek football federation.”
It added that any suspension would mean “that no Greek team of any sort, including clubs, could take part in FIFA or UEFA competitions.”
Infantino was further quoted as saying that he hoped the Greek government would now “reconsider their actions so we can still work together to resolve the issues affecting Greek football”.
But Greek deputy sports minister Stavros Kontonis rejected the warning shot, hitting back by insisting the new sports law would be going ahead.
“We are not going to change the philosophy of the sports bill. The supervision exercised in Greek football by FIFA and UEFA has failed,” Kontonis said on Greek television .
The bill, entitled ‘Measures for the confrontation of violence in Greek sports and other provisions’, will be initially reviewed from April 27-30 and then discussed in the Greek parliament on May 4-5.
Under the new legislation the government would have the right to impose fines ranging from €10,000 to €25 million for violent incidents, to order the postponement or cancellation of sporting events and even to prohibit teams from playing in European competition.
The legislation also includes the possibility of fines to be imposed on media outlets for showing or inciting violence and possible prison sentences for individuals from unrecognised supporters clubs who sell tickets.
Kontonis accused FIFA and UEFA of showing little interest in helping solve the issues of violence which have plagued the game in Greece where the top division has been suspended three times already this season.
“It appears that they are not interested in solving the evils plaguing Greek football, but are instead seeking ways to offend the Greek constitutional order and the Greek people, especially the country’s football fans, which have to put up with the current scene of rot and corruption, something which the government is trying to overturn,” Kontonis declared.
He said he had invited both bodies to Athens ahead of the planned three-day discussion of the bill to try and find a solution.
“We hope that both federations understand the serious, accumulating problems of Greek football and that they will engage constructively and actively in the process of consolidation, democratisation and transparency.”
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