Hellenic Basketball Federation President Vangelis Liolios is pictured at the EOK headquarters in Marousi, 03 October 2023. Photo: EPA/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS.
Greek police said on Thursday that six people have been arrested in an investigation into alleged attempts to manipulate basketball matches linked to domestic and international betting rings.
Greek media report that among the arrested is Vangelis Liolios, president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, whose lawyer has denied the allegations.
The arrests followed a coordinated operation on Wednesday across the Attica region, Achaia and Katerini, led by the police directorate responsible for combating organised crime. Five suspects were arrested during the operation, while a sixth voluntarily reported to the police and was subsequently arrested.
According to a police statement, the arrest warrants concern alleged offences including “soliciting or accepting gifts and other benefits, offering advantages to referees or sports officials, and illicitly interfering with basketball matches to influence their progress, nature or outcome.”
Apart from Liolios, suspects also include current and former referees and other figures connected to the sport, according to Greek media reports.
Liolios has denied wrongdoing. His lawyer, Panagiotis Papaioannou, spoke outside the courthouse and described the case as a “poorly concocted scheme”, arguing that those making accusations against his client had themselves previously been reported by Liolios and asked to be investigated.
The searches yielded 14 mobile phones, six laptops, 22 USB storage devices, two tablets, memory cards, a hard drive, team shirts and memorabilia, police said. Additionally, 931,463 euros in cash and other electronic devices were seized from their homes.
In a statement issued on October 21, the Hellenic Basketball Federation said its board had met to brief members on the ongoing legal proceedings concerning Greek basketball. The federation said it would “continue to monitor” the case through official announcements and formal procedures.
The six suspects have been referred to the competent prosecutorial authorities as the investigation continues.