Greek basketball rocked by major match-fixing scandal

A major investigation into match-fixing and bribery, dubbed 'Basketgate', has resulted in the detention of key figures within the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK). Following a round of testimonies concluding on October 26, 2026, four individuals have been remanded in custody, including former chief referee and consultant Ilias Koromilas, while two others, including referee Vaso Tsaroucha and former referee Tasos Piloidis, were placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring and a total ban from basketball activities. All defendants have denied the charges.

The judicial investigation continues to examine allegations of a systematic mechanism used to influence game outcomes. Prosecutors are scrutinizing financial discrepancies, including 120,000 euros seized from Koromilas’s home, which the suspect claims are legitimate earnings from EuroLeague services. While media reports have suggested the potential expansion of the inquiry to include eleven additional figures, including eight referees and three team officials, the Greek Police have clarified that no further official charges have been issued at this stage. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Vroutsis has called for immediate elections within the federation to establish new leadership amidst the ongoing crisis.