Greek basketball federation moves toward elections following corruption scandal

Following a major match-fixing scandal and the subsequent resignation of Vangelis Liolios as head of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK), the Greek Ministry of Sports has intervened to restore the sport's credibility. Minister of Sports Ioannis Vroutsis held a meeting with the federation's board of directors on October 26, 2026, where he recommended immediate elections to secure a fresh mandate from the clubs and ensure leadership legitimacy.

New federation president Angelos Papanikolaou, who replaced Liolios, agreed to the proposal, designating the current board as a transitional administration. While the specific date remains to be confirmed, elections are expected to take place in December 2026, with December 13 and 20 being the primary candidates. Potential candidates for the presidency reportedly include Panagiotis Fasoulas, Ioannis Bourousis, and Angelos Papanikolaou himself.

In the interim, Vroutsis has initiated audits by the Ministry of Finance and the Transparency Authority into the federation’s finances, signaling a stricter oversight approach. Despite these governance changes, the ministry has confirmed that official national team duties and domestic league schedules will continue uninterrupted during this transition period.