The cup match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos on March 2 will be
played in front of pupils and athletes only, but the next round of the league may well be postponed due to a referee strike. The General Secretariat for Sports and the Hellenic Volleyball Federation agreed to stage the semifinal in Piraeus in front of pupils, athletes and officials only, just as they had done in the finals of the last couple of years between the two clubs at Paleo Faliro.
Olympiakos and Panathinaikos put their reservations aside and agreed to the plan, that also envisages a similar scenario for the women's volleyball match between the two sides at Panathinaikos's home court.
This comes after the football derby between the two clubs that ended in chaotic scenes and has generated a number of violent incidents by fans.
Fans or no fans, the referees have decided enough is enough and called a strike for the weekend of February 26-27 to protest at not being paid by the league for the matches they officiate.
The league, in response, branded their move "a blackmail". However, the two sides may well reach an agreement in time for the weekend games to take place after all.
