The meeting with the Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, requested by the organizers of professional football, took place in an atmosphere of absolute sympathy.

Super League 1 was represented by President George Borovilos and Vice President Katia Koxenoglou and Super League 2 by President Leonidas Leoutsakos and Vice President Charalambos Stamoulis.

Three main topics were discussed and close cooperation agreed:

1) The need to update the protocol drawn up by professional football has been duly approved and applied to the presence of fans on the field of play, in order to have stricter and more effective controls on its implementation when the presence of spectators is gradually being allowed back into the stands,

2) The financial support of PAE through the payment of funds from the taxation of the bet, as we are going through a difficult year due to the pandemic with a serious impact on revenue, but also an increase in its operating costs, health protocols and almost daily tests for all their employees

3) The prompt and faithful implementation of the holistic study, which will immediately create conditions for development and a healthier environment for which the remaining administration of the EPO is an obstacle.

The deputy sports minister stressed that “it is not an intention but a decision by the government to proceed and be implemented within the federation (as the state’s obligations are 100% covered). Holistic study offers and this decision has been made known to FIFA and UEFA who we expect to defend and honor their signatures to our Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Super League 1 President Mr Borovilos bid for the holistic study, tellingly pointing out that “when professional football finally gets into the hands of professional football, everything will be sorted out very quickly”.

The issue of the need for a fully independent Greek referee was also raised and Mr Avgenakis updated her on the ongoing collaboration with chief referee Mark Clattenberg to have professional football and refereeing.

Regarding the centralized management of television rights, the deputy sports minister recommended implementing the recommendations of the holistic study on the subject and returning if unanimously, as was the case with Super League 2 last year.

In addition, the representatives of professional football congratulated Mr. Avgenakis both for the National Platform for Sporting Integrity (EPATHLA) and the enormous steps taken in such a short time to process the fixed games, as well as for the very positive developments in the field of anti-doping with the company of the National Anti-Doping Agency (EOKAN) and the full harmonization of our country after many years with the requirements of WADA.

At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Sport underlined:

“We had a constructive meeting and cooperation with both the President of Super League 1 and Super League 2. A discussion that touched on issues such as further financial support for professional football teams through the new way of taxing the profits of betting company. Something that affects both pro basketball and pro volleyball.

We also discussed the problems of the health protocol in force today (regarding the presence of people in the stadiums). We all have a sense of the reality and the difficulties of our society at the time of the pandemic.

We discussed the update of a very good job done in the previous period with the previous management of Super League 1 and fully taken over by Super League 2.

Now, with more experience from all sides, this “roadmap” is being updated so that we are ready to implement it when we see a decrease in the epidemiological phenomenon. To be able to bring many people back to the stands safely, to operate the whole football family safely and not to be afraid of the next day.

At the same time we talked about Greek football. Its course, the need for a faithful implementation of the holistic study and the role that the Hellenic Football Federation should and does not have in our country.

I listened very carefully to the views and I was delighted because there is absolute understanding of the need for Greek football to develop in a healthier environment.

A number of other issues were raised. However, these were the first three that engaged our discussion. We continue our cooperation. We have a lot to do together.

Football in our country needs support, primarily from its own factors. As demonstrated by the holistic study, we as a state satisfied 101% of the people correctly described by FIFA and UEFA who undertook the preparation and implementation of the holistic study in the Greek state.

We are confident that with a good climate and willingness to work together as we did today, we can work and achieve somethingthe modernization of the football building. “Together we can achieve more than individually.”

Super League 1 President George Borovilos remarked:

“First, I would like to thank the Undersecretary of State who responded to our request for this meeting. As you know, the pandemic has created serious problems in society and could not leave football untouched. So the main topic of discussion was the problem with the stadiums, as the political decision works and affects the maximum of 1,000 fans. A problem that the big teams in particular have, but also the rest. The minister showed understanding and in the context of the evolution of the pandemic we will see how this can be improved.

This of course raises financial questions, which are on the one hand the loss of revenue and on the other hand the additional expenses that the teams are making to support the health of the players and everyone involved in any capacity around the football field with the constant tests.

In addition, we discussed general issues affecting the space and there was an identification of views on whether we want football that gets more people into stadiums to have the competitiveness it deserves and to even watch , when the big ones are one is over. Problem of the pandemic, how can we have a football that the fan really wants, but also the healthy forces of football in general.

There will be more meetings in the coming days, it’s not like today was one and we’re done, there will be meetings related to the financial issues that exist to see how we’re going to move for the next period.”.

The President of Super League 2 Leonidas Leoutsakos stated:

“And we, in turn, thank the Under-Secretary for the prompt response to the meeting we requested with Super League 1.

This meeting shows that professional football needs to act as one, as all of these issues raised by Mr Borovilos clearly touch on the following category.

We have an economic character, we talked about it with the deputy minister and there is a very good atmosphere. I believe that with the help of the Ministry of State we should continue like this so that better days can come for Greek football.”