Greek football goes on ice for at least two weeks as of Monday, as the Hellenic Football Federation approved on Friday the proposal by its president, Sofoklis Pilavios to suspend all of the sport's activity in the country until the state and the clubs fulfill their duties on funding and violence matters.
The decision triggered a positive reaction by the Super League but also a very negative one by various clubs.
The move means that the second- and third-division play-offs are put on hold until further notice, while if the action stretches into July it will also affect the transfer window. It is not affecting Greece's Euro 2012 qualifier against Malta on Saturday.
"The Federation is closing down for 15 days for us to find a solution. But when we decide to tell the truth it will only take a couple of days. Football will either move forward or die," said Pilavios after exiting the HFF meeting.
"Unless we get a solution to our issues in this period of suspension, I will resign," he threatened.
The federation's head told delegates that football is close to sinking with issues such as the lack of state support, the clubs' attitude to violence and the negative atmosphere regarding the 41 cases of match-fixing under investigation.
"We now ask what kind of football they want... That of bouncers, hooligans, liars, forgers, obsolete ideas, dealings under the table, dependence on politicians who take advantage of it, fixed matches, violence and threats? Or what we propose, which is a football based on institutions and rules, on decency, reliability, moral values, without commitments and underground dealings, a football that has equality and meritocracy adjusted to global developments?"
His proposal for a total suspension of all football activity in the country received 49 votes out of 56.
The proposal for suspension came after death threats against Pilavios by unknown parties, which press reports have linked with second-division promotion hopefuls OFI Crete that recently failed to get a license to play in the top flight.
Sources close to Olympiakos president Vangelis Marinakis suggested that the decision is "funny stuff", arguing that it points at Pilavios's inability to run Greek football.
Relegated Iraklis, who has launched an all-out war at the federation, added ironically that "Pilavios has just discovered America".
SPORTINGREECE
