By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Greek Sports Minister George Vassiliadis revealed that he requested foreign referees to officiate in the Greek League from FIBA.
“I asked the aid of International Federations,” Vassiliadis said to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, few days before the Greek elections held Sunday (7/7). “FIBA didn’t respond. The minister can’t impose foreign referees. He can ask for them, he can diligently ask for them and I did that and went to Switzerland and ask for this. But this wasn’t feasible.”
Following Olympiacos’ decision to forfeit the Greek Cup semifinal against Panathinaikos at halftime, the “Reds” announced that they won’t play in any game against the “Greens” unless officiated by foreign referees. Olympiacos’ request wasn’t met and the team forfeited a regular season game vs. Panathinaikos, plus Game 1 of the quarterfinals.
As a result, Olympiacos was relegated to the Second Division. The club’s latter appeal to the Sports Judge was rejected.