Case files to detect criminal organizations “under the microscope”.

With measures against fan violence inside stadiums, but with justice looking for the natural culprits of all crimes, the great battle to purge the presence of any criminal organizations in the sports industry begins.

As part of the measures, the government decided to hold the Super League matches behind closed doors for two months and high-definition cameras in stadiums, although the judiciary is also playing an active role as it will try to coordinate it within these two months. Files related to incidents of fan violence, to establish whether criminal organizations are behind it all. A similar method was used in the Golden Dawn case.

Case files will be examined not as individual crimes, but in the light of the criminal organization with its duration, structure and leadership.

For this reason, on Tuesday (12.12.2023), the Minister of Civil Protection, Yiannis Oikonomou, and the Deputy Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, met with the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, on behalf of the Government, to improve the investigation of all cases of criminal sports violence and corruption, to search for the physical and moral perpetrators of all crimes, Also to look for the presence of any criminal organizations in the area.

In addition, the Ministers will provide the authorities with all available evidence to evaluate in the context of the investigation process and inform the Supreme Court Prosecutor that the Greek State will not show any tolerance for these events.

The independent Greek judiciary will investigate the extent to which gangs or criminal organizations operating in the wider professional sports sector finance, encourage or support this criminal activity.

Beyond that, as government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis noted, “Justice will investigate the extent to which gangs or criminal organizations operate in the wider field of professional sports. Who finances, promotes or encourages this crime? If there are some people who publicly support crimes that encourage illegal activity.”

Matches behind closed doors

For two months, until 12 February 2024, all Super League 1 matches will be played behind closed doors. The move will also extend to the home games of Super League 2 b teams that belong to their respective PAEs of the first professional division.

By February 18, 2024, all Superleague grounds must be fitted with high-definition cameras and controlled by the police.