Koriopolis

Koriopolis (Greek: Κοριόπολις) is the name given by the Greek press to a match fixing scandal in Greek football that came to light in June 2011.[1][2][3] The investigation centres on offences that include illegal gambling, fraud, extortion and money laundering.[4]

The name Koriopolis is a pun on the name of the Italian scandal of Calciopoli in 2006, and the Greek word korios (phone tap).

History

The investigation was launched after UEFA, the sports governing body in Europe, published a report that indicated at least 40 matches were fixed in the country during the 2009–10 season.[5] Among the 68 suspects listed by judicial authorities on 24 June 2011 were Greek Super League chairman and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis (who was later acquitted)[6][7] and Olympiacos player Avraam Papadopoulos,[8] other club officials, players, referees and a chief of police.[4] Details of the scandal were outlined in a 130-page document, a copy of which was seen by the Associated Press.[3] It contains numerous transcripts of recorded telephone conversations, filled with profanities and threats of physical violence, allegedly between corrupt team officials deciding match results, using players and referees.[4]

Among the 68 suspects were also Thomas Mitropoulos (ex-board member of Olympiacos F.C. and president of Egaleo FC), Ioannis Kompotis (owner of Levadiakos FC), Giorgos Borovilos (president of Asteras Tripolis), Dimitris Bakos (owner of Asteras Tripolis), the referees Giachos, Kalopoulos, Tryfonas, Giannis Spathas and many more.[9]

Giorgos Nikitiadis, the government’s deputy culture minister, described the investigation as "the darkest page in the history of Greek football" and the probe would go "as deep and as high as necessary".[10][8]

Club punishments by HFF

On 28 July 2011 it was announced that Olympiacos Volos and Kavala would be relegated to the Football League,[11] and their chairmen Achilleas Beos and Makis Psomiadis would face a lifelong ban from any football-related activity.[11] Both of them appealed the decision.[12]

On 10 August 2011 the final decision from the HFF's court had been made. It was ultimately decided that both teams would remain in the Super League, though with points deducted from the 2011-12 Super League season; Olympiacos Volos had 10 points deducted and Kavala 8 points.[13]

The next day, 11 August 2011, Olympiacos Volos, which had reached the Europa League play-off round, were excluded from the competition by UEFA for their involvement in the scandal.[14] UEFA officials said no action was presently being considered against Olympiacos F.C. regarding its participation in the Champions League of the following season.

On 23 August 2011, Olympiacos Volos and Kavala ultimately didn't get the license to participate and were relegated to Delta Ethniki for their involvement in the scandal.[15]

In February 2012, the Super League Greece with the agreement of the Hellenic Football Federation achieved the replacement of the two football prosecutors (Fakos, Antonakakis) with two others (Petropoulos, Karras).[16] The scandal investigation has stopped and never resumed ever since.[17] In September 2012, the Hellenic Football Federation decided the return Olympiacos Volos to the second division.

Judicial process

In 2013, the first trial took place, which found guilty officials Makis Psomiadis and Thomas Mitropoulos.

In July 2015, Marinakis was acquitted from all charges by the Prosecutor, Panagiotis Poulios,[18] and the three member Council of Judges[19] with the decision being final.[20] After the prosecutor's proposal to the penal justice, it was announced that the following are also going to be tried for the Koriopolis scandal: players Avraam Papadopoulos Kostas Mendrinos, officials Achilleas Beos, Ioannis Kombotis (owner of Levadiakos F.C.), Dimitris Tzelepis (chairman of Panthrakikos F.C.), Giorgos Borovilos (president of Asteras Tripolis), Dimitris Bakos (owner of Asteras Tripolis), Michalis Kountouris (president of amateur Olympiacos CFP and board member of Olympiacos F.C.) and many more.[21][22]

On 18 March 2016, Panathinaikos FC President Giannis Alafouzos sued Mr Marinakis and judges Tziblakis and Poulios for the Koriopolis case.[23] In the end, only Giorgos Tsakogiannis was convicted of illegal betting on a continuous basis and for participation in an illegal bet.[24]

See also

References
  1. Palmer, Justin; Ferris, Ken (23 June 2011). "Greek soccer bosses named in corruption scandal". Reuters. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. "Scandal hangs over Greek football". Al Jazeera. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  3. "Greek league chief linked to corruption scandal after UEFA identified suspect games". The Washington Post. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  4. "Dozens named in Greece football 'scandal'". BBC News. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  5. Hope, Kerin (24 June 2011). "Football fixing scandal rocks Greek elite". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  6. "AIPS Web Site - Full and complete acquittal for Olympiacos president Marinakis". www.aipsmedia.com. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  7. "Full and complete acquittal for Olympiacos' Marinakis". en.protothema.gr. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  8. "Greek Super League chief added to scandal corruption list". Eurosport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  9. Απαγόρευση εξόδου από τη χώρα σε 68 ύποπτους για τα «στημένα», naftemporiki.gr
  10. "Match-Fixing Scandal Strikes Greek Football". International Business Times. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  11. "Relegation for Olympiacos Volos and Kavala" (in Greek). Contra.gr. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  12. "On Wednesday the appeals of Olympiacos Volos and Kavala will be considered" (in Greek). Contra.gr. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  13. "Olympiacos Volos and Kavala escape relegation!". Contra.gr. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  14. Olympiacos Volos excluded from Europa League Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Olympiacos Volos and Kavala to the Delta Ethniki Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine (in Greek)
  16. "Εισαγγελέας για τους εισαγγελείς υπάρχει;". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  17. "Ορίστηκαν οι νέοι αθλητικοί εισαγγελείς". Contra.gr. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  18. "Η απαλλαγή του Βαγγέλη Μαρινάκη". Newpost.gr. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  19. "Απαλλαγή Μαρινάκη σε δίκη 84 για τα Στημένα". Εθνοσπόρ. 31 July 2015.
  20. "Τσιλιώτης: "Υπάρχει θέμα ηθικής, ποινικής και πειθαρχικής τάξης"". sport-fm.gr. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  21. Paul Nicholson. "Greeks send 85 to trial for match-fixing, but Olympiacos boss clears first round - Inside World Football". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  22. Gazzetta team (30 July 2015). "Απαλλαγή Μαρινάκη, σε δίκη 85 άτομα". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  23. Μήνυση στον Άρειο Πάγο από Αλαφούζο για το «Koriopolis»
  24. https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/tape_gate/enoxoi-gia-to-koriopolis-oi-mpeos-kompoths-tsakogianhs-a-papadopoylos.5099236.htmlῪ
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