Koriopolis
Encyclopedia
The Koriopolis is the name given by the Greek press for a match fixing
scandal in Greek football
that came to light in June 2011. The investigation centres around offences including illegal gambling
, fraud
, extortion
and money laundering
.
The name Koriopolis is a pun on the name of Italian scandal of Calciopoli in 2006, and the Greek word korios (phone tap
).
, the sports governing body in Europe, published a report that indicated at least 40 matches were fixed in the country during the 2009–10 season. Among the 68 suspects listed by judicial authorities on 24 June 2011 were Greek Super League chairman and Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis and Olympiacos player Avraam Papadopoulos
, other club officials, players, referees and a chief of police. Details of the scandal were outlined in a 130-page document, a copy of which was seen by the Associated Press
. It contains numerous transcripts of recorded telephone conversations, filled with profanities and threats of physical violence, allegedly between corrupt team officials deciding match results, using players and referees.
Giorgos Nikitiadis, the government’s deputy culture minister, described the investigation as "the darkest page in the history of Greek football" and the probe would go "as deep and as high as necessary", while AEK Athens president Stavros Adamidis said the domestic game had reached "rock bottom".
On 10 August 2011 the final decision from the HFF's court had been made. It was ultimately decided that both teams would remain in the Superleague, though with points deducted from the 2011-12 Superleague season; Olympiakos Volou had 10 points deducted and Kavala 8 points.
On 11 August 2011, Olympiakos Volou, which had reached the Europa League
play-off round, were excluded from the competition by UEFA for their involvement in the scandal.
On 23 August 2011, Olympiakos Volou and Kavala were relegated to Delta Ethniki for their involvement in the scandal.
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
scandal in Greek football
Football in Greece
Football is the national sport of Greece.-League system:The first league of professional football in Greece was officially established as the Panhellenic Championship in 1927...
that came to light in June 2011. The investigation centres around offences including illegal gambling
Gaming law
Gaming law can be described as the set of rules and regulations that apply to the gaming or gambling industry. Gaming law is not a branch of law in the traditional sense but rather is a collection of several areas of law that include criminal law, regulatory law, constitutional law, administrative...
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
.
The name Koriopolis is a pun on the name of Italian scandal of Calciopoli in 2006, and the Greek word korios (phone tap
Telephone tapping
Telephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was an actual electrical tap on the telephone line...
).
History
The investigation was launched after UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, the sports governing body in Europe, published a report that indicated at least 40 matches were fixed in the country during the 2009–10 season. Among the 68 suspects listed by judicial authorities on 24 June 2011 were Greek Super League chairman and Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis and Olympiacos player Avraam Papadopoulos
Avraam Papadopoulos
Avraam Papadopoulos is a Greek footballer, currently playing for Olympiacos F.C. and the Greek national football team as a central defender.-Aris Thessaloniki:...
, other club officials, players, referees and a chief of police. Details of the scandal were outlined in a 130-page document, a copy of which was seen by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. It contains numerous transcripts of recorded telephone conversations, filled with profanities and threats of physical violence, allegedly between corrupt team officials deciding match results, using players and referees.
Giorgos Nikitiadis, the government’s deputy culture minister, described the investigation as "the darkest page in the history of Greek football" and the probe would go "as deep and as high as necessary", while AEK Athens president Stavros Adamidis said the domestic game had reached "rock bottom".
Club punishments
On 28 July 2011 it was announced that Olympiakos Volou and Kavala would be relegated to the Football League, and their chairmen Achilleas Beos and Makis Psomiadis would face a life-long ban from any football-related activity. However, both of them appealed to this decision.On 10 August 2011 the final decision from the HFF's court had been made. It was ultimately decided that both teams would remain in the Superleague, though with points deducted from the 2011-12 Superleague season; Olympiakos Volou had 10 points deducted and Kavala 8 points.
On 11 August 2011, Olympiakos Volou, which had reached the Europa League
2011–12 UEFA Europa League
The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League is the third season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. It began on 30 June 2011 with the first legs of the first qualifying round, and will end on 9 May 2012 with the final to be held at Stadionul Național in Bucharest, Romania...
play-off round, were excluded from the competition by UEFA for their involvement in the scandal.
On 23 August 2011, Olympiakos Volou and Kavala were relegated to Delta Ethniki for their involvement in the scandal.
See also
- Calciopoli
- Brazilian football match-fixing scandalBrazilian football match-fixing scandalMáfia do Apito , sometimes referred to as the Escândalo do Apito , was the name given by the Brazilian press to the football match-fixing scandal reported by Veja magazine on September 23, 2005....
- 2005 Bundesliga scandal2005 Bundesliga scandalIn early 2005, German football was overshadowed by the discovery of a €2 million match fixing scandal centered on second division referee Robert Hoyzer, who confessed to fixing and betting on matches in the 2nd Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal , and the third division Regionalliga...
- 2011 Turkish sports corruption scandal2011 Turkish sports corruption scandalThe 2011 Turkish Sports corruption scandal is an ongoing investigation about match fixing, incentive premium, bribery, establishing a criminal organization, organized crime, extortion, threat and intimidation in Turkey's top two association football divisions, the Süper Lig and First League, and...