Athens Prosecutor Ilias Zagoreos has addressed criminal charges against 16 suspects in relation to corruption in football, following the investigation of deputy prosecutor Aristides Koreas.
The criminal charges brought against the 16 suspects include the formation and direction of a criminal organization, fraud, extortion, bribery and inciting bodily harm. Amongst the 16 suspects are 4 officers at the Greek Football Federation (EPO), 2 from the Central Refereeing Committee (KED) and 3 referees. No names have yet been revealed and 7 of the 16 suspects face the criminal organization charges.
According to the prosecutor’s investigation, the criminal organization fixed matches, appointed specific referees to games in order to affect match outcomes and controlled the relegation of football teams to the various divisions. The investigation is said to have been based on recorded telephone conversations, match results and an explosion that occurred at a referee’s bakery.
