Basketball Federation President In Custody Over Alleged Match-Fixing

by · Greek City Times

Evangelos Liolios and a close business associate will remain in custody after a Greek investigating magistrate and prosecutor ruled against their release following questioning over an alleged basketball match-fixing scandal involving 49 games across multiple divisions and competitions.

The judicial officials ordered the pre-trial detention of the two men, whom the case file identifies as central figures in the alleged manipulation scheme. Their detention marks the third such order in the investigation, following the remand of a former referee who gave evidence first on Friday.

Both defendants reportedly denied allegations that they participated in a series of bribes over a decade to manipulate basketball results in various competitions.

Liolios, who has served as a leading institutional figure in Greek basketball, reportedly told the investigating magistrate that he was facing prosecution because “some people want to remove me from the Hellenic Basketball Federation” (EOK).

Read more: Greek Basketball Referee Jailed Over Match-Fixing Scandal

He reiterated his longstanding claim that people with whom he has been involved in legal disputes for the past four years had orchestrated a conspiracy against him. According to Liolios, they were using false allegations to force him out of the federation’s presidency.

Liolios also reportedly presented details of his financial affairs to the investigating magistrate. He submitted findings from four tax audits conducted over the past decade, claiming that the authorities had raised no concerns.

He also referred to an audit that he said took place in 2025 and examined the 2019–2020 period. According to his account, the audit covered his personal assets, his Promitheas basketball club, his business interests, safe-deposit boxes and domestic and overseas bank accounts. He maintained that investigators had found nothing improper.

Liolios’s business associate, who faces allegations in connection with the same case, also categorically denied the charges during a brief questioning session.

The judicial process is scheduled to continue on Monday, when three of the six people arrested under warrants are due to give their statements. They include a serving referee and two former referees, who face allegations of accepting bribes.

(Source: AMNA)

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