Decision to suspend Greek football competition will not be reversed: minister

Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis said he is open to receiving a delegation from FIFA and UEFA on Wednesday to discuss his decision to indefinitely postpone the Greek Cup competition, but insists his decision to suspend the competition stands. 

PAOK fans during the Greek Cup match against Olympiakos. George Groutas/CC/Wikimedia

Earlier this month Kontonis postponed the Greek Cup indefinitely for the first time ever.

The competition had reached the semi-final stage, but violence disrupted a crucial match between PAOK and Olympiakos.

"We will battle to confirm our decision. It was founded on legal terms and is a measure which solves the serious problem of public order," Kontonis said during a press conference in Athens.

Greek media reported that FIFA and UEFA officials will try to convince Kontonis to withdraw his decision or the country's teams may face disqualification from European and international competitions.

"The government is here. We will come into conflict with not only those with interests, but all those who think they can blackmail or intimidate the government. There is no other road for us except the courts. We will support our decisions in the courts of the country," Kontonis said.

He added that the government is doing "whatever it can" to stop the “plague of violence” at sporting events and said that never before have so many hooligans been taken to court for their actions.

During the match that stopped Greek football, Olympiakos were ahead 2-1 in the 89th minute. Dozens of hooligans then burst on the pitch after referee Andreas Pappas did not award the home team a penalty.

Riot police managed to turn the fans back but not before they caused substantial damage to the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki.

The Greek federation fined PAOK 100,000 euros, were given a five-point Super League deduction and ordered to play three matches behind closed doors.

Last year Kontonis suspended Super League matches following violence between rival sets of supporters.