Professional Sports Commission

The recent incident in Greek soccer is indeed didactic, leading to one general conclusion and several smaller related ones - all, alas, quite sad. The general conclusion is that the country has made little progress in terms of mentality in the 200 years that it has claimed to be an organized state.

Parliament on Wednesday backed a controversial legal amendment that will prevent northern Greek soccer clubs PAOK and Xanthi from being relegated due to alleged infringement of ownership rules.
The amendment passed by 156 votes to 90. Fifty-four deputies abstained.
Antonis Samaras, a former prime minister, and Giorgos Vagonias from New Democracy were absent from the vote.

Fearing reactions in northern Greece that would divide the country between north and south, the government on Tuesday announced an amendment that would ensure that northern clubs PAOK Thessaloniki and Xanthi are not relegated due to a breach of Super League rules which forbids two clubs from having common ownership.

Ruling New Democracy has struck lawmaker and popular soccer veteran Theodoros Zagorakis from its European Parliament group over comments criticizing a recommendation by the Professional Sports Commission to relegate clubs PAOK and Xanthi.

PAOK has not enjoyed its return to the top of the Super League on Monday as it is threatened with the ultimate punishment for allegedly bending ownership rules. The response by the Thessaloniki club and its fans was explosive.