Panahaiki face demotion over transfer debt
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Article summary
The Hellenic Football Federation has said that Panahaiki GC face enforced relegation at the end of the season.
Article body
Money owed
The Patras club owe €180,000 to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca FC from the 1999 purchase of defender Lazaros Ioakovou, according to the EPO. "We call on the Greek federation to decide immediately on the relegation of Panahaiki from the division they will be playing in next season," read a letter to the EPO from world governing body FIFA.
Relegation danger
The two clubs had reached an agreement concerning the payment in May 2002 at FIFA headquarters, but Panahaiki have yet to honour it. The EPO's decision means that Panahaiki, who are currently bottom of the 16-team Alpha Ethniki with only one win all season, could be playing in the semi-amateur third division next term unless their debts are cleared.
