Georgios Bartzokas addressed the match-fixing and bribery scandal in Greek basketball, stressing that basketball should remain the priority while the courts determine responsibility.

Olympiacos Piraeus head coach Georgios Bartzokas touched on one of the hottest topics in European basketball right now: the match-fixing and bribery scandal in Greek basketball.

Bartzokas believes basketball should come above everything else, while the courts will ultimately decide what happens and who is responsible.

“Basketball is above all. Initially, it’s not our job to comment on the situation, as it is currently being handled by lawyers and courts. They will decide what will happen and who is responsible,” Bartzokas said in the press conference after the game against Besiktas.

“Our job is basketball, and that’s what I believe. We are blessed to work in the sport we love. This is true for every club, every coach, and every player. We should enjoy our careers on the court. For athletes, this journey doesn’t last forever; it may last six, seven, eight, nine, or ten years.”

“Possibly, these are the best years of our lives, and we should not allow anything to take away this feeling,” he added. “We should be happy to compete at the highest level. That is all I can say at this moment. We will wait to see what the courts decide in the near future.”

EuroLeague referees involved in Greek basketball scandal

The Greek scandal that started because of the arrest warrants issued for six people accused of match-fixing and bribery is continuing to involve more referees, with three of the six initial people being recent EuroLeague refs.

Ilias Koromilas, Petros Papapetrou, and Vasiliki Tsaroucha all officiated EuroLeague games during parts of the broader 2018-2026 period and are reportedly being examined by Greek authorities, while Tasos Piloidis is another person involved who worked in the competition earlier in his career.

Tsaroucha was the only referee who had been working in the EuroLeague ecosystem right up until the scandal started. She was suspended by the EuroLeague right after being arrested in Greece.

This situation has caused major ripples in Greek basketball, with the Greek Basketball Federation’s president stepping down due to his involvement and a new president being elected.

We Couldn’t Believe This Greek Basketball Scandal…

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