Giannis Alafouzos is a person on a mission.
For decades, Greek football has been riddled with accusations of corruption and match-repairing alongside with a tradition of intimidation and violence in the direction of referees.
For illustration, the 2015 match-correcting scandal saw prosecutors declare up to 70 people – which incorporated gamers, referees, club executives and persons from the country’s federation – had formed a legal organisation in buy to control the sport by way of repairing matches and blackmail, just before all 70 were being inevitably acquitted next a six-calendar year circumstance.
Equally, in 2012, a bakery that was owned by referee Petros Konstantineas – who refused to fix a video game – was bombed, forcing his relatives to into hiding.
As a end result, the name of Greek football has been tarnished.
Panathinaikos president Giannis Alafouzos is decided to cleanse up soccer in Greece
Alafouzos is at the moment in his 2nd spell as president of the Greek giants (pictured in green)
But Alafouzos – now in his next spell as president of Greek giants Panathinaikos soon after in the beginning conserving the club from bankruptcy in 2012 – is decided to crystal clear up the sport in the region.
‘Since I was a child I’ve always thought teams cannot be owned by business enterprise persons for the reason that they belong to the fans,’ he exclusively informed Mail Sport.
‘There have been lots of allegations about scandals and match-fixing but couple of convictions.
‘I think things did change and all people tried using to enhance governance in Greek soccer for a number of years but I have some reservations and maybe we’re regressing yet again.’
The admission of regression possibly will come pursuing the information that broke past week of Europol remaining amongst the organisations investigating 18 teams for suspected participation in an illegal betting ring, a little something the Greek Football Federation claimed to know practically nothing about.
5 of these groups contend in the Greek Super League alongside Panathinaikos, even though the other 13 are in the next tier.
‘Yes, it can be a primary case in point (of the troubles),’ he extra. ‘There have been a whole lot of allegations and studies in the press and I feel the (Greek Football) federation should really have taken additional measures and reacted faster.
‘We experienced a assembly previous week where there was a committee of expert soccer clubs and the federation and we manufactured our scenario and it was accepted and hopefully they will now go through the required investigation.’
Alafouzos has despatched letters to both the Greek Football Federation and the Professional Soccer Committee in Greece urging this incident to be a ‘trigger for a major cleansing of professional football’.
But what else can be done to support clear up football additional typically in the place?
‘The federation has to become greater at keeping greater expectations,’ he stated.
‘We have experienced an challenge over the years that they have not been up to expectations and UEFA has experienced to move in once or twice but that’s where the trouble starts.
Alafouzos urged Greek footballing authorities to do much more to offer with issues in the place
Panathinaikos have noticed several rivals golf equipment in the Greek Tremendous League associated in scandals
‘Unless you are getting policed people today can be tempted not to abide by the rules. The federation has to grow to be stricter and additional helpful in working with troubles.
‘We’re operating tough on that. We’ve published letters to UEFA and the Greek Football Federation and frequented them, asking them to enhance the ethical criteria and surveillance of what is heading on and I hope this will have some affect.’
Elsewhere, Greece has also witnessed many controversial refereeing incidents in current instances.
Last season, UEFA despatched elite Polish officers to Greece for a superior-profile activity among AEK Athens and Aris yet they were accused of getting drunk and disorderly when they had been on the aircraft there – an accusation they deny – and subsequently have been changed by Greek officers.
It was alleged the new refereeing team were probable to be more helpful to AEK Athens in the sport.
Likewise, Italian referee Davide Massa was referred to as in to officiate a tense Athens derby among Olympiakos and AEK.
Even so, the game was marred by unattractive scenes and the formal claimed he was attacked in the tunnel later on and kicked in the crotch.
Alafouzos said: ‘I would like we addressed referees in a far better way. Over the years Panathinaikos have by no means been concerned in any allegations of mistreatment or scandals and we try out to show regard to officers and opponents.
‘I hope additional and more groups see there is another way to do issues.’
On the pitch, points are on the up for Alafouzos and Panathinaikos beneath the tutelage of seasoned Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic.
Jovanovic has overseen a major turnaround at the club as even with position historically as one particular of Greece’s most profitable groups, they haven’t won the domestic title since 2009-10.
Panathinaikos (pictured versus Man United in a group sport in 2003) utilized to be regulars in the Champions League but have not qualified for the levels of competition considering that the 2010-11 period
They are at the moment getting ready for their 2nd qualifying spherical very first leg tie towards Dnipro
On the other hand, last season’s second location complete was their best in eight several years whilst they also received the Greek Cup in 2021-22.
Likewise, soon after being regulars in the Champions League in the course of the early element of the 21st century, Panathinaikos haven’t featured in the opposition for 13 several years.
This included a three-12 months ban from UEFA in 2018 due to the club failing to spend their debts and previous yr they endured the ignominy of dropping in the Europa Meeting League 3rd qualifying round to Slavia Prague.
Tuesday night’s Champions League second qualifying round initial leg tie from Ukrainian outfit Dnipro is therefore a large instant for the club.
The sport is at the Kosicka Arena in Slovakia, just before the return leg back again in Athens next week.
And Alafouzos can barely hold out for the tie to get underway, with the winners set to facial area Marseille in the third qualifying round.
He stated: ‘We are quite enthusiastic and hopeful that we will do properly. It can be incredibly essential to us as we have finished a large amount of operate.
‘We would be elated to make it as a result of to the group phase and it would make a big distinction economically.
‘I assume our money would most likely triple which would only have positive impacts.
‘The club is hoping to enhance specifications for the reason that we want our crew to become far more internationally recognized and support our significant fanbase. We are also extending our training floor and building a new stadium.
Matters are on the up below the tutelage of professional Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic (correct)
Alafouzos – in his second spell as president – is determined to return to the Champions League
‘Last calendar year we experienced additional lovers at games than for several years and factors are slowly on the lookout up and I hope we would not make any key errors that will consider us again.’
Despite the substantial difficulties Alafouzos faces on and off the pitch in cleansing up Greek football and strengthening the fortunes of Panathinaikos, he remains optimistic.
He claimed: ‘When I turned concerned in 2012 it was a pretty hard battle, in particular as this coincided with Greece’s substantial money complications so it was a really difficult interval.
‘But in the last several a long time we have been able to offer with our fiscal concerns and commit extra and far more in the group and in facilities.
‘Greek soccer can be extremely thrilling and very first division football right here continues to improve but I would like to see Greece rank bigger between the UEFA nations.
‘There’s been very a bit of expenditure in the major football teams and I hope we do nicely in Europe not just for the club but also for our fellow Greek teams so we can have a even bigger participation in European football.
‘The money that can be produced from that is quite sizeable for Greek teams. At the end of the working day, it truly is not just about the glory but also the revenue.’