Former Hellenic Basketball Federation president remanded in custody over match-fixing scandal

On October 25, 2026, Vangelis Liolios, the president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK), and his close associate George Mavraganis were remanded in custody following an investigation into a major match-fixing scandal. Liolios, who resigned from his position shortly before appearing before the investigating magistrate, faced a five-hour interrogation where he denied all charges, including felony bribery related to 49 basketball matches across various divisions. He claimed the allegations were a fabrication designed to remove him from the federation.

Despite presenting financial records from recent tax audits to prove his innocence, the judicial authorities deemed the evidence insufficient and ordered his imprisonment, citing a risk of recidivism due to his extensive network within the sport. This decision follows the earlier detention of former referee Petros Papapetrou on October 23. In the wake of the scandal, the EOK board elected Angelos Papanikolaou as the new president to address the administrative crisis. Investigations are ongoing, with additional figures in the Greek basketball community expected to testify before the court.