The Shambles of The Greek Cup

The Shambles of The Greek Cup

By Stephen Kountourou

To put it very bluntly, the organisation of what is now last season's Greek Cup final has been an absolute shambles.

Two cancellations, moving from one venue and then back to the original one. Covid cases mounting with every week the final is not played, putting the players and staff more at risk. 

Players being sold during the transfer window, while new ones are brought in that are prohibited from playing. 

The handling of the final of a competition that not only could have, but should have been played on the 26th of July, when it was originally intended to be held, is solely the blame of the Hellenic Football Federation or EPO for short. 

The mismanagement of the Greek Cup, which should have been the perfect way to end off, what was already a difficult season for everyone involved, has only drawn it out unnecessarily further, with all other competitions in Europe ready ended and the new 2020/21 season just around the corner. 

I think you know my feelings about this already but still we must press on so, in my latest blog, I will be giving my thoughts and examining the fiasco that has been the organising of the Greek Cup final of 2020. 

Taking a look at it from the very beginning way back when in early summer when both teams qualified, to the latest news that has only just come to light about the second suspension of the final. 

And here I was thinking, after the last final between Olympiakos and AEK in 2016, the cup couldn't get anymore controversial; I was clearly wrong.   

Where It all Began

Let's go way back to July when the original date of the Greek Cup final was due to be played on the 26th of said month. AEK and Olympiakos had qualified for the final by knocking out Aris and PAOK respectively, and there was much anticipation for the first final between both sides since 2015/16, which, coincidentally, was also shrouded in controversy. 

The EPO had scheduled the venue of the final to be held at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Apollon Smyrnis home ground, which resides in the Athens suburb of Rizoupolis. Despite concern from Olympiakos that the Georgios Kamaras Stadium was situated within close proximity to the neighbouring municipality of Nea Filadelfeia, where the AEK stadium, Agia Sofia, is currently under construction, the final was still on course to take place. 

However upon a police investigation in the area, they discovered that there were clearly suspicious items including gasoline bombs and baseball bats with the purpose of these to be used in organised fan violence, after the conclusion of the Greek Cup final. 

 

First Suspension and creating more Problems 

With these new revelations the EPO was recommended by the police, to change the venue to the Spyros Louis Athens Olympic Stadium, where the final of the Greek Cup under normal circumstance would be held, as they could not guarantee the safety of both teams if riot broke out between both sets of supporters. 

Despite Olympiakos and AEK both being happy to move the final to the OAKA, the EPO took too long on the decision to change the stadium and when they eventually agreed that the final would be played at the Olympic Stadium, they decided that the most logical thing to do was to postpone the match until the 30th of August.

The incompetence of the EPO to make the initial decision created even more problems for themselves and everyone involved. 

As well as disrupting Olymiakos from having a competitive play between the end of the domestic league campaign and their massive Europa League tie with Wolves, it meant that AEK would have to wait a whole six weeks to play another competitive match. This would only create more problems for both sides as departing key players to pastures new in the transfer window have left gaping holes in both squads for the upcoming fixture. 

Examples range from Omar Elabdellaoui, Kostas Tsimikas and Guilherme for Olympiakos and Vasilis Barkas for AEK, just to name a couple of key players who will all now be unavailable to compete in the final, as they have all departed before the 30th of August.

With the first postponement came sanctions by FIFA and UEFA who informed both teams that they are prohibited from entering players into their 23 man match day squad, if that had been transferred or loaned to the club after the conclusion of the 2019/20 season. 

Which basically mean new signings, and players returning from loan, be unable to compete in the final. Players who have transferred to both sides at the time of writing, including, Rafinha, Holebas and Kristinsson for Olympiakos and Szmanski, Ansarifard and Insua for AEK, to mention players that could have filled the holes of departing players cannot do what they have been brought in to do in this fixture, leaving both squads rather thin for the final. 

Second Supsension and the Mounting Issues it Created 

With all the time the EPO wasted in leaving a massive gap of finishing of the Greek domestic season, the number of Covid19 cases during the summer months, slowly mounted. 

The first notable player reported to test positive was Ruben Semedo. The Portuguese defender who was already linked with a potential move away from Piraeus, became unavailable leaving Thrylos with only three centre backs to play in the final along with their other absentees and departures. 

This then started a chain reaction, with the virus being so contagious, for other players to test positive. Young goalkeeper, Kostantinos Tzolakis, who was due to start in the Greek cup final, with Jose Sa still out injured, and Bobby Allain out with an unrelated illness, also tested positive, leaving 4th choice keeper Ilias Karargyris with the huge responsibility of playing in the Greek Cup final. 

With 48 hours until the match was finally due to be played, Maxamilliano Lovera became the third player to test positive for Covid19 meaning that the EPO were forced to postpone the match once again. 

While of course, the health and safety of players, coaches and other members of staff are incredibly important this is something that the EPO seemed to have completely disregarded in the middle of the biggest health crisis in recent memory. 

Yes, the reason they postponed it again is to stop more individuals involved testing positive, but this all could have been avoided if, firstly they had not postponed the match in the first place, secondly, if they had decided sooner on whether it was safer to have the match take place in Rizoupolis or the Olympic Stadium, and thirdly this would have been the perfect outcome in a very bad situation already, to end off the season promptly so that both teams can prepare for the next season and not worry about a match that is from the previous campaign and feels devalued with every passing day that it is not played. 

The Greek Cup is one of the countries most historic competitions in modern sport and the disrespect that EPO has shown by throwing it about the year calendar as they please not only shows that they do not care about the teams or individuals involved, but the competition and the image of Greek football as a whole. Rant over, for now.

 

After much speculation of when the match would be held, the EPO came to the conclusion that the match should be held on the 12th of September instead, with The Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos being chosen as the ground to play the final. 

It also falls on the exact same weekend as the 2020/21 season starting. This lack of thought not only has affected Oympiakos and AEK, but it has now spilled into the rest of the division. 

AEK and Panathinaikos had also requested that the EPO sort out the Olympic stadium's pitch as it has been left in terrible condition and would not have even been properly prepared for the final if it had taken place on the 30th of August, let alone when the new season kicks off. 

Both Cup finalists were actually due to play each other in the first game of the new season but that match had been pushed back to the 16th of December.

 

As final has been pushed back again, this does give both sides the opportunity to have players who may have Covid19, are injured or with any other ailments to become available should they be allowed to participate. To their credit, or what little I can give them, the EPO did apparently appeal to FIFA and UEFA, on behalf of Olympiakos and AEK, about the sanctions in the hope of allowing them both to use players that they have signed over the transfer window to give both sides the best chance possible of having fully strengthened squads for this fixture. 

This however was sadly rejected by the football governing bodies so both sides will bre forced to face off with patch work teams in a final that almost doesn't matter anymore and interferes with both of their busy schedules. 

 

My Final Thoughts

To finish, the EPO has really messed up. Their lack of preparation for the Greek Cup final, the change in venue, the two postponements and the disregard of care the Greek game and individuals who actually care about the sport in Greece has not only further ruined the reputation of Greek football but most importantly has risked the health and well being of the people involved and that to me is disgraceful. 

They have taken a final that should have been a celebration of the end of the Greek season between the two best teams in the competition and have devalued it to the point where most fans seem to be crying out to just cancel the match all together. 

These are not the people who should be leading Greek football into a better era and hopefully come the elections in October change will come and with it, a hope that Greek football can finally start going in the right direction.  

Hellas Football 

Follow @stevekountourou