Vasiliadis pressing ahead with Super League changes

To put it lightly, the process of restructuring the ladder of Greek club football isn’t going smoothly. We’re already in April, but with the current campaign gradually approaching its climax, the format for the 2019/2020 season is still not set in stone.

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The spat between Deputy Greek Minister of Culture and Sport, Giorgos Vasiliadis, and Super League clubs is still ongoing. Last year, Vasiliadis made it clear that his plan for reducing the amount of teams in the top division was going to be made a reality, but clubs competing in the Super League have vehemently rejected his idea and want the proposal to fall through. Nevertheless, despite their increasing pressure, Vasiliadis is refusing to budge as he sticks to his guns.

According to the format, clubs in the last three positions of the 2018/2019 Super League will be relegated immediately, while the team in 13th position competes in a relegation/promotion playoff against the second best 2018/2019 Football League side. Only the Football League winner earns direct promotion. The number of clubs competing in the Super League will be reduced from 16 to 14 for the 2019/2020 campaign.

In a major change, a newly created Super League 2 championship becomes the second tier of Greek football, while the Football League transforms into the third level. The Gamma Ethniki subsequently takes the form of the fourth step on the ladder.

Here are the proposed formats for the first three levels in the upcoming 2019/2020 season, with 40 teams spread across the three championships:

2019/2020 Super League format

14 clubs (12 clubs from 2018/2019 Super League campaign, 2018/2019 Football League champion, winner of relegation/promotion playoff)

2019/2020 Super League 2 format

12 clubs (teams between 3rd-10th position of 2018/2019 Football League, three 2018/2019 Super League relegated teams, loser of relegation/promotion playoff)

2019/2020 Football League format

14 clubs (teams in 11th and 12th position of 2018/2019 Football League, 12 teams from 2018/2019 Gamma Ethniki)

Vasiliadis has sent an amendment concerning the restructuring of football in the country to the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO). Gazzetta.gr published it on this following link.

Recently, reports have stated that clubs competing in the 2019/2020 Super League 2 will receive 460,000 euros in television revenue from ERT, the state broadcasting company which will show championship matches. This is certainly positive news for clubs which will suffer relegation from the 2018/2019 Super League, as in the past, teams which were demoted soon encountered serious financial problems.

Articles in the Greek media have also revealed that teams in the 2019/2020 Football League will receive around 300,000 in earnings.

More information concerning the financial side of things, and the structure itself, will become clear as the summer gets closer. So far, Super League clubs are continuing to attempt to change Vasiliadis’ proposals, but it appears as though their efforts are in vain.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: to10.gr

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