Threat of Grexit returns as Hubel anger increases
Last year, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) managed to avoid expulsion from FIFA and UEFA, but Herbert Hubel has been angered by certain violent episodes witnessed in the Super League.
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In 2018, the EPO was dangerously close to complete disaster. Following the debacle in the PAOK - AEK Super League match, in which Ivan Savvidis made a pitch invasion with a firearm attached to his waist, the EPO was threatened with expulsion from FIFA and UEFA. Herbert Hubel, who is the chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee for Greek football, warned that a possible Grexit was close, but it was eventually avoided after the reasonably calm Greek Cup final between AEK and PAOK in Athens. Six guidelines were also set out to fight the threat of Grexit.
The risk of Grexit has certainly subsided this year, but after the recent Panathinaikos - Olympiacos derby in the Super League, Hubel is once again an angry man. In the 70th minute, play was stopped at the Olympic Stadium, as supporters clashed with police along the periphery of the arena with tear gas being swept inside the OAKA. A subsequent court ruling ordered for Panathinaikos to be docked three points from the Super League table, but at the same time, the decision was taken for the remaining 20 minutes of the same game to be played at a later date.
The situation concerning convicted Vasilis Gagatsis has also fuelled Hubel’s opinion that the EPO needs to be punished on a large scale. In 2017, former EPO president Gagatsis was charged with corruption, but he has still remained in his position of Super League Chief Executive to this day.
Reports are suggesting that Hubel doesn’t feel the EPO has done enough to combat violence in the Greek game. Alongside the violent scenes in the Panathinaikos - Olympiacos match, there was trouble at the AEK - Olympiacos Super League game in October, with fans engaging in skirmishes with riot police. AEK were later deducted three points from the Super League table for the incident.
Once again, similar to the situation in 2018, a lot seems to depend on the upcoming Greek Cup final. For the third consecutive year, AEK and PAOK are on course to meet in the showpiece game, and taken into account the problems which this fixture always causes (just take the 2017 Greek Cup final in Volos for an example), there is no guarantee that things will go smoothly. Initially, there were rumours that the EPO was considering playing the final abroad, but it has since become known that the match will be held at the OAKA again despite the threat of violence. AEK and PAOK both lead 2:0 on aggregate in their semi-final ties against Lamia and Asteras Tripolis respectively.
Hubel is convinced the EPO is not taking the required steps to improve the state of Greek football, and in May, important decisions will be taken. At this moment in time, the likelihood of Grexit isn’t overly high, but it’s vital that the Greek Cup final will be played without any violent scandals.
