Greek basketball rocked by arrests of federation president and officials

On October 21, 2026, Greek authorities issued arrest warrants for six individuals, including Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) President Vangelis Liolios, as well as several referees and members of the Central Refereeing Committee (KED). The suspects face grave charges related to bribery, corruption, and match-fixing. This development follows a long-standing environment of tension and disputes between various stakeholders in the sport.

Dimitris Giannakopoulos, owner of Panathinaikos BC, reacted sharply to the news, celebrating the arrests and implying that his club has been a victim of systematic manipulation for years. Panathinaikos BC issued an official statement condemning the past refereeing decisions that they claim cost them titles and caused significant financial and reputational damage. Margarita Thanou, legal counsel for Panathinaikos, also expressed relief regarding the judicial intervention, noting the history of legal battles between the club and opposing entities like Olympiacos BC.

The investigations into the sport are currently ongoing, with authorities focusing on the alleged corruption network. The athletic community remains in a state of high alert as stakeholders await further legal proceedings against those named in the arrest warrants.