Stu Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Fifa has suspended European champions Greece and its member clubs from international competition because of government interference in the sport. Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country". Fifa said that it had issued several warnings to the Hellenic Football Federation but they had been ignored. Under the suspension, the likes of AEK Athens, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos will not be allowed to compete in the Champions League or Uefa Cup next season and the Greek national side will not be allowed to defend its European title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Fifa has suspended European champions Greece and its member clubs from international competition because of government interference in the sport. Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country". Fifa said that it had issued several warnings to the Hellenic Football Federation but they had been ignored. Under the suspension, the likes of AEK Athens, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos will not be allowed to compete in the Champions League or Uefa Cup next season and the Greek national side will not be allowed to defend its European title. A bit harsh, but at least FIFA is being fair since they did the same to Kenya a year ago. Though I am guessing the suspention will be lifted before the Euro qualification like FIFA did to Kenya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I guess that depends on how the Federation reacts. Why have the Greek government been getting involved anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micheal_warren Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 wow thats big considering they are European Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted July 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 There's not a lot of time to resolve any differences either - there is supposed to be a friendly against England mid-August and then more importantly they have to start the defence of their title on 2nd September with a match against Moldova - the Champions League and Uefa Cup will not be so long after that. If it's not resolved it could cost Greek football millions of euros and cause an administrative nightmare for European football - how do you replace the Greek teams? How do you replace the Italian teams? It could be a very interesting season! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 There's not a lot of time to resolve any differences either - there is supposed to be a friendly against England mid-August and then more importantly they have to start the defence of their title on 2nd September with a match against Moldova - the Champions League and Uefa Cup will not be so long after that. If it's not resolved it could cost Greek football millions of euros and cause an administrative nightmare for European football - how do you replace the Greek teams? How do you replace the Italian teams? It could be a very interesting season! If I am not mistaken the four Italian teams results will be stricken and the table recalculated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PYRROS2004 Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 The main issue is who will control the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) (and the money of course). At the present time the government can't control EPO as they would like. Today at the parliament they will start discussing a new law about the sport federations. Officials say that there is still time till the 15th of July to change the law in a way that FIFA will be satisfied. Already Greek referees that were supposed to participate in intertoto were ordered not to do so. There is a problem with the Greek clubs that participate in intertoto, the friendly match with England, the Greek teams that participate in European Championships and of course the final of the Champions League next May in Olympic Stadium in Athens. A bit ironic since today 2 years ago Greece won the European Cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 I think FIFA should suspend all European teams after this World Cup, and move headquarters to New York, Colorado Springs or San Francisco. Yes, that would be good for the worldwide soccer movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikel Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 I think FIFA should suspend all European teams after this World Cup, and move headquarters to New York, Colorado Springs or San Francisco. Yes, that would be good for the worldwide soccer movement. Sí, sí, sí, te comprendemos... ¡Cómprate un Fary o tírate a un pozico anda! También la FIFA podía ser nómada y tener el cuartel general cada año en un sitio, o tener el cuartel en Marte, o en la Luna, o... o.... o... Pues eso: ¡Cómprate...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PYRROS2004 Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 The minister of sports today took out of the new law 8 paragraphs. It looks like the war with FIFA ended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThrillosAG Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 The minister of sports today took out of the new law 8 paragraphs. It looks like the war with FIFA ended! This was in the Kathimerini today outlining what the government had said: Linky! Linky! Soccer hopes are raisedAmendment to law would end EPO’s state funding; ball in FIFA’s court Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos yesterday amended a proposed sports law, cutting off state funding to the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), a day after soccer's world governing body FIFA suspended Greece from international competition for allowing government interference in the running of the sport. The move fueled speculation that FIFA's decision would be revoked, particularly in view of a statement by FIFA President Sepp Blatter earlier yesterday warning Greece to take the ruling seriously. «This should be an alarm for the Greek government. They have until July 15 to show that they are taking this sanction by FIFA seriously and they have to move quickly,» Blatter told a press conference in Berlin. A few hours later, the government tabled the amendment, allowing Greek sports federations to operate independently of Greek sports law, provided they forgo state funding. The bill is to be passed into law next week. «The Greek state has taken the necessary measures to ensure such problems will not arise in future,» government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros told reporters. Orfanos took the opportunity to criticize the country's soccer federation with whose president, Vassilis Gagatsis, he has had numerous run-ins over the past two years. «EPO does not observe the laws of the land. We want more democratic voting rules - rules that apply to all other sporting federations in Greece. If it insists, state protection will be withdrawn,» Orfanos said. «We do not refute the laws of the state but we do reject interventions upon the self-administration of Greek soccer,» Gagatsis told a press conference in response. FIFA President Blatter made it clear that he was aware of a clash between EPO and the Greek government. «The suspension will be an alarm and I am sure it will be heeded because, in my opinion, this is more a clash of personalities than people acting in the bad interest of football,» Blatter said. EPO's suspension was announced by FIFA's emergency committee on Monday. If it is not lifted, European soccer champion Greece faces exclusion from international competitions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 FIFA makes someone do something? This must be a historic moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThrillosAG Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 FIFA makes someone do something? This must be a historic moment! What's even funnier is the fact that someone is Orfanos ... that guy doesn't do anything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Nor do FIFA, except spout hot air! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PYRROS2004 Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 It's impressive how an international organization can interfere in a country's internal affairs by saying if you don't agree with my rules, I don't want you in my organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThrillosAG Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 It's impressive how an international organization can interfere in a country's internal affairs by saying if you don't agree with my rules, I don't want you in my organization. Ela vre, ti thelei o Orfanos mesa stin Omospondia? Kalutera na min exei tin xeri mesa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintana Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 It's impressive how an international organization can interfere in a country's internal affairs by saying if you don't agree with my rules, I don't want you in my organization. It would be strange if it was the otherway around imho. If Greece wants to be part of FIFA it has to respects its rules just like you have to respect the Greek laws if you want to be a part of Greek society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 It would be strange if it was the otherway around imho. If Greece wants to be part of FIFA it has to respects its rules just like you have to respect the Greek laws if you want to be a part of Greek society. True, but one is a natural, legitimate society; the other is merely an artificially created entity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintana Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 True, but one is a natural, legitimate society; the other is merely an artificially created entity. True, but no one forces you to join FIFA. If you don't agree with their rules you shouldn't join them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cesco_82 Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 exactly...! btw...as i asked in another topic...will this affect Greek partecipation to euro2008 qualification matches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintana Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 exactly...!btw...as i asked in another topic...will this affect Greek partecipation to euro2008 qualification matches? Yes, if the FIFA doesn't lift the ban no Greek teams (club and country) are allowed to participate in international competitions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThrillosAG Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 exactly...!btw...as i asked in another topic...will this affect Greek partecipation to euro2008 qualification matches? If the Government sits and does nothing then yeah, they will not participate in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. But that is very unlikely because legislation is already going through Parliament and should be passed by the July 15 deadline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Septic Bladder Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Can anyone supply some info on the actual laws that have caused the problem - what are some of the key issues. Without knowing the underlying issues it all seems a bit strange that a sporting organisation is indirectly intefering in the laws of a soverign nation. Is FIFA > than a National Government? In Australia, the National Government played a role in the overthrow of an ineffective and destructive Football Association that has held back the development of football for years - but FIFA did not say a word. Double standards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 I think the main thrust of it is no direct influence by a national government on a member association. So, in the Australian case, I suppose it would depend to what extent the government was involved and whether they let the new hierarchy get on with it afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.