Greek basketball rocked by match-fixing scandal and high-profile arrests

On October 21, 2026, Greek authorities issued six arrest warrants following a three-month investigation into a widespread match-fixing scandal. Among those arrested are Vangelis Liolios, President of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK), along with three referees—Vaso Tsaroucha, Petros Papapetrou, and Ilias Koromilas—plus former referee and referee committee member Tasos Piloidis and businessman Giorgos Mavraganis. The probe, led by Athens sports prosecutor Apostolos Grammenos, examines approximately 50 matches spanning a decade, ranging from youth and school leagues to top-tier professional competition.

The investigation was triggered by eight formal complaints, most notably from Marousi BC, which provided evidence including text messages between officials. Authorities reportedly discovered 820,000 euros in cash at the residence of one of the referees. One specific incident under scrutiny involves a March 2026 school tournament semifinal in Paphos, where a team received 52 free throws in the final minutes of play.

The six individuals were detained and brought before an investigator on October 22, 2026. They face charges of bribery and corruption under sports legislation. The accused are expected to request extensions to review the case file and prepare their defense strategies.