Two witnesses who admit to taking part in bribery schemes have handed prosecutors documents and text messages in a widening investigation into alleged match-fixing in Greek basketball, according to people familiar with the case.
By Anna Kandyli
The probe has led to the arrest of Vangelis Liolios, head of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, and five others, who are accused over the alleged manipulation of about 50 games played between 2016 and 2026.
Police found 800,000 euros ($930,000) in cash at the home of one of the arrested referees.
Mr. Liolios, a former owner of top-flight club Promitheas Patras, was re-elected federation president after defeating former national team star Panagiotis Fassoulas.
He has rejected earlier allegations against him, dismissing them as distasteful sketches.
Three witnesses provided key evidence, according to the people familiar with the case.
Two of them, a businessman and former basketball executive and a person linked to refereeing, are themselves alleged to have taken part in bribery.
Prosecutors did not charge them because they cooperated, under Greek laws offering leniency to those who help expose such crimes.
Most of the games under investigation were youth and school tournaments, where success can help students gain university admission.
The probe also covers a game in an unnamed Balkan country, where a local team accused Greek referees of attempting bribery before a playoff game.
FIBA, basketball's world governing body, later disciplined the referees.
The case follows allegations made in April by Greek club Maroussi about possible match manipulation and refereeing.
Greece's sports secretary-general referred those claims to the sports prosecutor.
All the suspects are presumed innocent.