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The
Daily Gyro July 10, 2006 FIFA Bans Greek Soccer Because Greek Government Cares Too Much Apparently FIFA would rather have soccer federations in each of its member countries run without any oversight from those who follow the teams in their respective countries the closest – their government officials; oversight that could potentially prevent scandals like the one plaguing the league that produced the players that just won the sport’s biggest prize. Italy’s win over France in the World Cup yesterday ended a month of more focus on soccer than most Americans get. As Greek-Americans who were elated two years ago when Greece won the European Championship, this summer held less interest with Greece not in the World Cup at all and the US being embarrassed in its opening round matches. But as empty as we as ethnic-Americans felt this last month with no one to root for, there could be no Greek soccer on the international stage if FIFA, soccer’s world governing body sustains the ban it issued last week on Greek soccer teams playing in international matches. The reason for the Greek ban isn’t anything particularly sinister, considering that the match-fixing scandal that has been rocking Italy’s top club league over the last several months. FIFA has banned Greek soccer because of the Greek government’s insistence on monitoring the sport through state oversight. The last straw was draft legislation posed by Greece’s sports minister Giorgos Orfanos to put place even more control over Greek sports organizations many of whom have been accused of financial irregularities and lacking transparency. Apparently FIFA would rather have soccer federations in each of its member countries run without any oversight from those who follow the teams in their respective countries the closest – their government officials; oversight that could potentially prevent scandals like the one plaguing the league that produced the players that just won the sport’s biggest prize. The deadline for the Greek Government to fix the situation is Saturday July 15th. It is likely that the Greek Government will have to cave on this one before it endangers the national team’s qualifying for its defense of its European title, a friendly against England on August 16th, Olympiakos’ participation in Champions League and probably most important for the politicians, Athens hosting the Champions League Final next May. There’s politicians sticking to principles, and then there’s angering an entire nation that has taken great pride recently in either winning international competitions or doing a great job in hosting them. Other Servings of The Daily Gyro
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