The Super League will probably not be starting this weekend after all, as the government's desire to postpone the start of the local championship took effect on Thursday through the moves of the Professional Sports Commission (EEA).
The league's organizers had issued a statement on Wednesday suggesting that the first round of game would take place on August 27-28 for fear of having to pay up to 4 million euros to Nova, the television platform that has exclusive rights to the league, as there is a clause inside the TV rights contract providing for compensation to the channel should there be no league start within August.
The Super League also called on EEA to monitor urgently the files of second division sides Levadiakos and Doxa Dramas so that they could take the place of demoted Olympiakos Volou and Kavala.
However, on Thursday EEA postponed the examination of the applications of the two second-division clubs until Thursday September 1, effectively postponing the kick-off for at least one week.
That is so because the Super League has not yet ratified its league charter, as one postponement led to another during the summer, and it cannot do so now without having all 16 clubs signing it - and given that Levadiakos and Doxa may or may not get a permit to play in the top flight, that cannot happen for the time being, until EEA approves their applications.
Consequently, the league will not be starting within August, but the Super League will in all probability not be liable to paying compensation to Nova, as the reason for the postponement will likely be considered beyond the Super League's competence.
In a last-ditch effort to set the ball rolling this weekend, the Super League is reportedly considering to have the charter approve and signed by just 14 clibs, and defer the signing by the other two when the EEA process is completed. That would mean that Olympiakos or AEK would sit out the first round of games, that would only include no more than six matches.
What is more, Iraklis has filed for an injunction so that the league does not start this weekend, before their case to get reinstated in the top division is heard in court. A decision on that is expected on Friday.
Kavala and Olympiakos Volou are also expected to file for an injunction on Friday.
Given that Greece is playing two Euro 2012 qualifying games on September 2 and 6, the earlier the league can start now is in the weekend of September 10-11.
The urge of the administration of the Super League, still headed by Olympiakos president Vangelis Marinakis, was such, that it issued its statement on Wednesday apparently without consulting its members, forcing Panathinaikos and AEK to issue formal statements that rebuked the Super League's statement.
The government has repeatedly stated that its priority is not the start of the league but the cleansing of the local game.
EEA is an independent regulating authority, appointed by the government and subordinate to the Culture Ministry.
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