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Greek outfit ejected from Europa League

Comment: 0 August 12th, 2011 by: admin

Greek Super League club Olympiakos Volou have reportedly been expelled from the Europa League due to their involvement in a scandal of match-fixing in 2009 and 2010.

The decision to eject the club from the League was followed by the decision of a three-year ban, deferred for a five-year probationary period, from competing in the UEFA.

According to an official statement, Olympiakos Volou are given until Monday, 15 August, to submit an official appeal. The club confirmed that it will appeal the decision.

Initial decisions saw the club, along with club Kavala, being handed a demotion from the Greek Super League; the decision, however, was overturned on appeal. A total of 10 points was instead deducted from Olympiakos, and eight from Kavala.

The deduction of points as punishment effectively required that the penalized clubs be excluded from European competition, UEFA regulations stated.

The decision to eject the clubs from the Europa League while sparing them from relegation caused a number of negative reactions, specifically from Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos.

‘Just as UEFA is showing resolve for combating match fixing, Greece’s sports justice is softening penalties,’ said Geroulanos. ‘The state respects the decision of the sports justice but is determined to continue the effort to clean up Greek soccer until the very end.’

UEFA are yet to make a decision on the club that will be replacing Olympiakos Volou in the Europa League.

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