Investigations into the alleged basketball match-fixing scandal are proceeding at a rapid pace in Greece, with Cypriot authorities standing by to provide assistance should Athens request it.
Based on the information available so far, there is no evidence of Cyprus’s involvement in the case, despite the fact that the Greek high school basketball league was where the investigation first began to unravel.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The president of the Cyprus Basketball Federation, Louis Demetriou, clarified that the Federation was not responsible for organizing the event, limiting its role to providing referees and administrative support. As he noted, two Cypriot referees had initially been assigned to the match in question; however, the decision was changed at the last minute, and two Greek referees took over the officiating duties.
At the same time, Mr. Dimitriou expressed the Cypriot side’s disappointment with how the situation unfolded, taking into account the close ties with the Hellenic Basketball Federation. At the same time, he emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate all the facts, referring to the available audiovisual footage of the game.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Ethics and Sports Protection Commission is in contact with the corresponding competent authority in Greece, having already expressed its readiness to assist, should the need arise. As noted, the two sides maintain excellent relations.
The game at the center of the controversy
At the center of the matter is the semifinal of the Final Four of the Greek high school championship, held in Paphos, between Anagennisi Patras and the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki.
The Patras team prevailed 64–60, even though the Thessaloniki team had led 58–45 about 12 minutes before the end of the game. A key point of contention was the number of free throws taken by the Patras team, which totaled 52, sparking strong reactions.
After the game, the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki filed a protest regarding the officiating, detailing the calls it disputed. This particular game served as the starting point for a broader investigation of the case in Greece, with developments now under close scrutiny by the relevant authorities.
Watch Giorgos Chrysanthos’s report:
