Greek clubs denied subsidy

The Hellenic Football League (EPEA) have been refused a cut of revenue from betting as they aim to avert the current TV rights crisis.

Financial hardship
With ten of the 16 Greek top-flight sides suffering extreme financial hardship after the collapse of their broadcasting partner Alpha Digital Synthesis SA, the EPEA asked for a five to eight per cent cut of revenue from fixed odds betting to stave off financial disaster for struggling clubs.

Stern refusal
An EPEA delegation held talks with culture minister Evangelos Venizelos this afternoon to discuss their proposition but were met with refusal after demanding a government subsidy to ensure that the remainder of this season's games could go ahead.

Sporting responsibility
Venizlos, who is responsible for decisions affecting sport and the state bookmakers, OPAP, was adamant that the clubs were on their own as they aimed to continue the season without the vital revenue which would have come from the television deal.

No discussion
"The government will not conduct a segmentary discussion with the clubs so that they can achieve state funds in order to cover their short-term problems," said Venizelos. "The teams, who in the first place made their business decisions concerning their TV rights, must now assume the corresponding responsibility. They should have taken measures for such a turn of events, they should have been wiser and anticipated the risks inherent in their decisions."

Abandonment concerns
Asked whether he was concerned that the league would have to be prematurely ended as the clubs involved - Olympiakos Piraeus FC, Panathinaikos FC, AEK Athens FC, FC PAOK Thessaloniki, Aris Thessaloniki FC, Xanthi FC, Panionios FC, Panahaiki FC and newly-promoted Proodeftiki FC and PAS Giannina FC - were not capable of upholding their financial commitments for the season, Venizelos reiterated his unwillingness to allow state subsidy.

'No dilemma'
"If the government has to choose between its duty to protect the social benefits and the risk of not having a football league this season, there is no dilemma," he said. "We stand firm on our decision not to interfere or to take financial responsibility for the business failures of others."

Legal obstacles
Under Greek law, football fixtures cannot be included on fixed-odds betting forms as a means of eliminating any doubts that matches could be rigged, but the EPEA asked the minister to change this ruling and allow the financially-troubled clubs to take a five to eight per cent cut from the resulting revenue.

Rescue package
The minister remains defiant that there is no chance of the rules governing betting on football to be changed, and the EPEA will conduct and extraordinary meeting tomorrow to discuss what can be done to provide a rescue package which will allow the season to continue.

TV dependency
The possibility of abandoning the season has been discussed among the clubs, many of whom were absolutely dependent upon TV revenue for their financial survival, but with several top-flight sides having successfully negotiated television deals elsewhere, there is unlikely to be unanimous support for such a move.

Games to go ahead
Despite the grave crisis, this weekend's third round of league games will go ahead as planned, but unless there is a dramatic change of financial circumstances, it seems unlikely that many clubs will be able to pay wages to players and coaches and that some may have to withdraw from the competition or even go into liquidation.

Compulsory liquidation
Alpha Digital Synthesis SA declared bankruptcy on Thursday, saying: "The company is sad to announce that it has declared bankruptcy and will undergo compulsory liquidation." The announcement added that Alpha Digital Synthesis went to all lengths in order to secure the financial viability of the company, but had no other solution than to suspend its operations.