Greece: basketball match-fixing scandal
The president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, Vangelis Liolios, has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and match-fixing. Arrest warrants have also been issued for several referees. Liolios has stepped down from his post but denies the allegations. Around 50 matches are under investigation, with the alleged irregularities dating back to 2016. The Greek press discusses the scandal.
A humiliating reality
News website Liberal reflects on corruption in sport:
“The paradox is that in Greece we've already become accustomed to an extremely humiliating reality. For the most important football matches, we bring in referees from abroad. Not because the country lacks people who know the rules of football, but because those involved in Greek football don't trust the Greek refereeing system enough to accept Greek referees for matches where titles and major economic interests are at stake. It's a strange institutional admission of failure which we have come to regard as almost normal.”
Not everyone can be bought
The revelations offer a glimmer of hope in the current grim atmosphere, News247 comments:
“There are people who have spoken out. Admittedly, they may have done so because of personal conflicts or to further their own interests, rather than acting out of a sense of moral duty. Nevertheless, their reports were heeded and the police, public and judicial authorities mobilised. ... It is no easy task for a civil servant to go after a millionaire businessman. ... And so we find ourselves faced with a surprising contradiction typical of this country. On the one hand we see corruption and fraud running rampant. On the other we are reminded that there are also those who fulfil their duty, honour their oath, and make do with a meagre salary.”
From one scandal to the next
Apostolos Apostolou, a professor of political and social philosophy, writes in Documento:
“The people of this country fall asleep to one scandal and wake up to the next. ... Current affairs have turned into an endless parade of revelations, allegations and investigations, with society watching in stunned silence while those in power try to convince us that everything is under control. ... The country cannot function as a scandal mill while at the same time demanding that its citizens celebrate a return to normality. What is needed is transparency, checks and balances, independent oversight and proper accountability. No more assurances that everything will be investigated while everyone waits for the next revelations.”