Greek top flight faces postponement

The start of the Greek Superleague season looks likely to be delayed after riots in the central city of Volos.

Police had to be deployed in the city after rioters lit fires in the streets and smashed windows following a march staged by 1500 football fans.

They were protesting about sanctions taken against the local club, Olympiakos Volou, which also affected another team, Kavala.

Both have effectively been relegated to the fourth division, after the sports commission decided not to grant either of them a professional license.

After a meeting earlier in the week, the commission determined that neither club had made any significant changes to their ownership status despite both of their owners, Makis Psomiadis and Achilleas Beos, being given life bans.

The bans relate to the ‘Koriopolis’ match-fixing scandal, which came to light in June.

A UEFA report suggested that at least 40 matches were fixed in Greece during the 2009-2010 season.

The subsequent investigation has uncovered evidence of illegal gambling, fraud, extortion and money laundering.

It looks likely that the two spots that the clubs should have had in the Superleague will go to Levadiakos and Doxa Dramas, who finished fourth and fifth in the second division last season.

Olympiakos Volou were due to face Paris Saint Germain in a Europa League qualification play-off, but were given a three-year ban by UEFA earlier this month because of the match-fixing scandal.