ESAP: “We request immediate financial support from TAA”

After ESAKE and the Super League, ESAP was also placed on the topic of betting revenue for the teams. In fact, the Volleyball League sent a letter to the relevant authorities.

With her demands that part of the amount from winning the bet attributed to TAA be paid out immediately, otherwise it will be difficult to start the championship.

Specifically, the relevant information states: “The Board of ESAP, at the meeting of August 2nd, 2022, considered the developments taking place in professional sport in relation to the distribution of income from betting and gambling and it was decided to send the following letter to:

1. Finance Minister Mr. Christos Staikouras

2. Deputy Finance Minister Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis

3. Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Apostolos Vesyropoulos

4. Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Mr. Eleftherios Avgenakis

Gentlemen,

After yesterday’s briefing of the Deputy Minister of Sports to the President of our Cooperative, we inform you that today the Board of ESAP held an extraordinary meeting, the only item on the agenda of which was the non-payment of funds, at least for this year, from the liquidation of the tax rate of the ” Bet”.

Irrespective of the fact that the institutionalization of sports financing from state revenue from the taxation of “bets” is something that everyone ascribes to the state and above all to your people.

However, we must point out that non-payment of any amounts from March 2021 to date and possibly February 2023 has caused a major problem for our affiliates.

We have all been waiting for the outcome of the liquidation, hoping that we will be rehabilitated and collect what is due to us based on the percentages set out in the respective terms and conditions.

Unfortunately, we have found that this was not the case, culminating in the non-payment of our teams who competed in Europe last season, an injustice that we believe must be rectified immediately.

It is also clear that the financial planning of all our teams, and in particular the three clubs that have won promotion to the Volleyleague, has been “inflated” and the start of the championship is being questioned, not because we want to contradict you, but because we simply do lose weight.

Following the recent developments and for the above reasons, we turn to you, who are pillars of Greek volleyball in practice and in data, and request (in the form of an advance payment for 2023) the immediate financial support of the TAA of ESAP.

It is the only solution to achieve balance and for all teams to start the championship under the same conditions.

Knowing your firmly confirmed interest, we believe you will find a way to continue to receive the support of the state and, in turn, that support we assure you that we will repay it with a competitive championship worthy of the best the world.

Otherwise, we entrust you with our “agony” that it is now going from doubtful to almost impossible to even start in the new league!”.