Greece Suspends Basketball Federation Funding Amid Match-Fixing Probe

Greece has suspended state funding for its national basketball federation and ordered financial audits as authorities investigate allegations of match-fixing and bribery, Anadolu Agency reported Friday.

The investigation focuses on federation president Vangelis Liolios and covers five alleged bribery incidents, including payments of up to €5,000 to referees.

Sports Minister Yiannis Vroutsis has frozen the federation's legally mandated subsidies and called for an extraordinary audit of its finances and management for 2024, 2025 and 2026. 

The audit will be carried out by the General Directorate of Financial Audits at the Ministry of National Economy and Finance. The National Transparency Authority will conduct a separate review.

Greek police have arrested six people on suspicion of bribery and illegally influencing the outcome of basketball matches. 

Searches of the suspects' homes turned up €931,463 in cash, along with 14 mobile phones, six laptops and other electronic devices.

Liolios denies any wrongdoing. He is scheduled to appear before an investigating magistrate on October 25.

Investigators believe the case involves around 50 games played between 2016 and 2026. Former Greek basketball star Panagiotis Giannakis intends to give evidence and may formally join the proceedings in support of the prosecution.

This is not the first time Greek basketball has faced match-fixing allegations, with several high-profile cases in the past. The sport is hugely popular in Greece, which has produced many world-class players and teams.