By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos AKTOR has issued a strong official statement targeting Greek Basketball Federation (EOK) president Evangelos Liolios, following revelations that have shaken Greek basketball.
The Greens accused Liolios of overseeing a system that favors certain teams while disadvantaging others, calling the current state of the sport a “shadow theater where the federation president pulls the strings.”
The controversy stems from evidence presented by Maroussi’s legal representative Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, who revealed alleged text messages between Liolios and coach Ilias Papatheodorou. According to those claims, Liolios appeared to act beyond his institutional role, allegedly influencing club matters related to Promitheas Patras and even knowing referee assignments before their official announcement.
Panathinaikos emphasized this point in its statement, questioning the integrity of officiating:
“It is proven that he knows which referees will officiate league games two days before their appointment by the Central Refereeing Committee and their official announcement.”
The club went further, directly accusing Liolios of conflict of interest, claiming he effectively operates as the decision-maker for Promitheas:
“From his own messages, it is evident that apart from being the president of the federation, he is also the one making decisions on behalf of Promitheas Patras, acting as the owner of the team.”
Panathinaikos also stated that it has been “blatantly wronged” by referees in key moments, including championship finals, suggesting that the alleged system has had direct competitive consequences.
Based on the latest developments, the Athens club made its stance clear:
“It is evident that after the new revelations, Mr. Evangelos Liolios cannot remain even for a moment in the position of president of the Greek Basketball Federation.”
They concluded with a direct ultimatum:
“There are now only two paths: either he resigns or he is removed from his position.”
The allegations behind the storm
The situation escalated after Maroussi’s legal team presented messages allegedly showing Liolios referring to himself as the “boss” of Promitheas and discussing transfer negotiations. The material, which reportedly covers the 2023–2025 period, has already been submitted to the federation’s ethics committee.
One of the most serious claims involves officiating. According to Dimitrakopoulos, Liolios shared the names of referees for a game two days before the official announcement—raising questions about the independence of the Central Refereeing Committee.
The lawyer argued that the case represents a clear conflict of interest, calling on Liolios to either clarify his position or step down.
Liolios responds
Liolios has denied wrongdoing and previously reported an attempted blackmail related to the case. In his response, he dismissed the accusations and defended the progress of Greek basketball:
“Greek basketball has reached one of its most competitive levels… Those who long for the past believe they can undermine this progress. Whatever they do, the river does not flow backwards. The tactics of the past are gone for good.”
A growing crisis
With Panathinaikos now publicly taking a leading role, the situation has escalated into a full-blown institutional conflict.
Maroussi has already filed an official complaint with supporting evidence, while calls are growing for other major clubs—including Olympiacos, AEK, Aris, and PAOK—to take a stance.
At the center of the controversy remain two key accusations:
- Conflict of interest, with Liolios allegedly acting as a decision-maker for Promitheas
- Referee integrity concerns, tied to early knowledge of officiating assignments
As investigations continue, pressure is mounting on the leadership of Greek basketball, with Panathinaikos making it clear that, in their view, the situation has already crossed a line.