Ethniki uncertainty continues, points deductions set to be abolished
In regards to the Greek national team, little progress has been made in the weeks after the defeat to Armenia in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, with the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) no closer to finding a replacement for the outgoing Angelos Anastasiadis.
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The uncertainty surrounding the Greek national team continues. In early June, the team conceded two disappointing defeats to Italy (0:3) and Armenia (2:3), with Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kostas Manolas reportedly calling for Angelos Anastasiadis to be sacked. Nevertheless, since those games, the EPO appears to have cast aside the issue of the head coach.
If reports in the media are to be believed, Anastasiadis will soon be removed from his post as the head coach of the Greek national team, but the EPO is dragging its heels. EPO president, Evangelos Grammenos, is in good relations with Anastasiadis and wants to take his time with the matter. Greece will next play in Euro 2020 qualifying in September.
According to sources, the EPO wants to hire a foreign coach who has not previously worked in Greece, but no one has yet been linked with the job. The search for a new Ethniki Omada boss will intensify once the EPO manages to cancel its contract with Anastasiadis. It’s assumed that technical director, Angelos Basinas, will also be given the boot.
POINTS DEDUCTIONS SET TO BE ABOLISHED
In an interesting turn of events, the EPO wants to abolish points deductions for fan trouble in the 2019/2020 season, with clubs only to be punished with fines and stadium bans.
For example, AEK were deducted three points from the Super League standings for fan chaos in the 1:1 draw against Olympiacos last October, but under the new regulations, the Kitrinomavri wouldn’t lose any points from the table for a similar incident. Instead, offending teams will only be penalised with fines and matches behind closed doors.
In the event a game is abandoned because of violence (i.e. Panathinaikos’ derby against Olympiacos this year), the home team will receive a technical 0:3 defeat, a stadium ban and a fine. There will be no deduction of points.
However, on Wednesday, FIFA independent expert Petr Fousek stated that before the changes are approved, they must be reviewed by the world football governing body. This is said to have angered both the EPO and the Super League organisation.
