Four prominent Greek athletes implicated in massive tax evasion case in Thessaloniki

A major investigation into a tax evasion network in Thessaloniki has implicated four prominent figures from the Greek sports community among a total of 1,283 defendants. The case involves an extensive network of 917 companies allegedly used to create tax and social security debts totaling approximately 206 million euros. Among those named in the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) files sent to the Thessaloniki Prosecutor's Office are former footballers Pantelis Kafes and Spyros Vallas, as well as former international basketball player Panagiotis Liadelis.

Authorities revealed that this complex circuit utilized various 'straw men' to facilitate massive financial fraud. The investigation underscores the involvement of high-profile individuals in systematic illicit activities aimed at defrauding the state and the EFKA social security fund. While the case is currently moving through the legal system in northern Greece, the documents highlight the sheer scale of the operation, which has resulted in one of the most significant tax evasion charges in recent years. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with judicial authorities processing the extensive documentation against all 1,283 suspects to determine further administrative and criminal actions.