Greek basketball federation president and officials arrested in match-fixing scandal
On October 21, 2026, Greek authorities issued six arrest warrants involving the leadership of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) following a three-month investigation by sports prosecutor Apostolos Grammenos. EOK president Vangelis Liolios and five others—including referees Vaso Tsaroucha and Petros Papapetrou, Central Refereeing Committee members Tasos Piloidis and Ilias Koromilas, and businessman Georgios Mavraganis—were targeted for their alleged roles in a match-fixing syndicate. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Marousi BC in April 2026, supported by evidence from witnesses and electronic communications.
The case covers alleged bribery and match manipulation across various levels, from youth and school leagues to the top professional division, spanning the decade from 2016 to 2026. Authorities are currently scrutinizing approximately 50 matches. During raids, police reportedly discovered 820,000 euros in cash at the home of one of the implicated referees. The accused individuals were detained, with Liolios and others expected to provide explanations to an investigator the following day. The EOK board held an emergency meeting to address the legal crisis as the scandal drew significant international media attention.