Aris face Bassir sanction
Friday, August 22, 2003
Article summary
Greek side FC Aris Thessaloniki face a transfer embargo because of a debt owed to a former player.
Article body
Money due
Aris owe €280,000 to their former Moroccan striker Salahedine Bassir, whose contract with the club ended in June. Today the Hellenic Football Federation issued a statement saying: "FIFA had already warned Aris that they cannot make any transfers until they settle their debt towards former player Salahedine Bassir of €280,000.
No new players
"Since Aris have not yet reached a settlement with the player and the debt still stands, the FIFA ban stands as well and the club are not allowed to register any new players for the league until this matter is resolved."
New season
This means Aris will be able to participate in the new Alpha Ethniki season, which starts tomorrow, but they cannot field seven players registered over the summer. It had been feared they could be refused entry to the league. Aris handed Bassir an expensive one-year contract last July, which they have subsequently struggled to pay. The player is currently without a club.
Ineligible to play
Aris's summer signings Vassilis Spertos, Kostas Frantzeskos, Theodoros Gitkos and Giannis Lazanas will be ineligible along with three players who extended their contracts in the close season - Magnus Selander, Andreas Skentzos and Alexandros Dellios. Aris will open their league campaign with a game at Akratitos FC on Sunday, with coach Giannis Mihalitsios facing a major selection headache.
