Vangelis Liolios, the president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK), announced on Sunday that he was stepping down from his role, as he appeared before an investigating magistrate in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations of match fixing in Greek basketball.

The inquiry focuses on claims that games linked to betting markets were manipulated, with authorities examining the possible involvement of referees and other figures within the sport.

The case has hit a crucial phase, with suspects being questioned and judicial authorities reviewing the evidence gathered so far.

Liolios has denied the charges against him, and his defence team has argued that there is no solid evidence linking him to match fixing, describing the case as a conspiracy.

Allegations

According to information made public so far, the investigation concerns allegations of bribery and the offering of benefits to referees, players and club officials in order to influence the course or outcome of basketball games.

Authorities are examining 49 matches played between 2016 and 2026, ranging from professional and lower national divisions to youth and school championships.

Prosecutors say that the alleged offences were aimed partly at manipulating matches that could feature in betting markets in Greece and abroad.

The acts under examination are said to have been committed on a repeated basis, either by individuals acting alone or in cooperation with others.

Liolios and his close associate, Giorgos Mavraganis, have been giving evidence before the investigating magistrate.

Liolios' defence has disputed the evidence presented in the case file, arguing that allegations against him are not backed up by evidence showing that he was involved in match fixing.

His lawyer, Panagiotis Papaioannou, has also questioned the way in which messages related to the case were made public, arguing that publishing select excerpts was not enough evidence to draw reliable conclusions.

Former referee remanded in custody

One of the most significant developments in the case was the decision to remand in custody former referee Petros Papapetrou following his deposition on Friday.

According to reports, police found €820,000 in cash at his home. He is said to have claimed that the money came from income he accumulated over 25 years, from his work as a referee, his job at the forestry service, family earnings and property sales.

He reportedly said that his combined income with his family from 2001 to 2026 amounted to €1.5 million and that he gradually withdrew and saved the money from bank accounts because his living expenses were limited.

Papapetrou's lawyer, Orestis Georgiadis, disputed the allegations and announced that the defence would appeal against the decision to remand him in custody.

He said that documents have been submitted which, according to the defence, prove the lawful origin of the cash.

More depositions scheduled for Monday

The judicial process is expected to continue on Monday, with international referee Vasso Tsaroucha, EOK refereeing adviser Ilias Koromilas and former referee and member of the Central Refereeing Committee, Tasos Piloidis, scheduled to give statements.

These depositions form part of a broader effort by authorities to clarify the role of all those named in the case file and to consider whether more people may be involved.

Following the latest developments, the EOK board held an emergency meeting and stressed that it was closely monitoring the situation.

The Federation underlined that its priority was to ensure its smooth operation and the orderly running of all leagues and competitions. It announced that the board was also meeting on a continuous basis, twice a day, in order to assess developments in the case.