Greece has suspended its SuperLeague after PAOK President Ivan Savvidis invaded the pitch during a match with AEK with what appeared to be a gun strapped to his waist. “We are openly communicating with UEFA and we won’t restart the championship until we have a clear program of how to move forward”, Greece’s Deputy Minister for Sport, George Vassiliadis, reportedly told the media. “We’re waiting for the federation and the league to make proposals”.

Vassiliadis, who is understood to be licensed to carry a firearm, has apologised for his actions.  ‘My emotional reaction stems from the widespread negative situations prevailing in Greek football lately and from all the unacceptable, non sports-related events that took place towards the end of the PAOK – AEK Athens encounter: the actions of the referee and his assistant (goal – offside – goal), the match suspension, the protests and invasion on the pitch by many people from both sides’, he said in a statement. ‘All that could lead to uncontrollable situations. My only aim was to protect tens of thousands of PAOK fans from provocation, riots and human casualties. Please believe that I had no intention to engage in a brawl with our opponents or the referees. And Ι obviously did not threaten anybody.

‘Unfortunately, my family and I, as well as my colleagues, have been taken hostage by a totally sick football status-quo. Despite the non-stop attacks I am facing on all fronts, I fight and I will continue to fight for fair football, equitable refereeing in all encounters and titles being won on the pitch and not in courtrooms.’ 

Earlier this month, a number of club owners, players and officials were sentenced to prison terms for involvement in match-fixing, according to Greek reports. In 2015, 85 defendants were charged, however it is understood that over 100 charges against other individuals were dropped. Earlier this month, the Hellenic Football Association (EPO) was forced to defend itself against accusations that it had been given a ‘yellow card’ by international confederations. It argued that it has ‘maintained a close partnership with FIFA, UEFA and the Steering Committee for the sole purpose of institutional modernisation and transparency in Greek football’.