Panionios Relegated… For Now, Holding The Asterisk As Restructuring Looms

Panionios Relegated… For Now, Holding The Asterisk As Restructuring Looms


By Michael



The Super League Play-Outs have concluded, with Xanthi and Panionios finishing 13th and 14th respectively, thus confirms Panionios relegated from the top-flight. Well, for now at least, given the predicament of how the 19/20 championship progressed with the sudden coronavirus pandemic, Panionios will carry the asterisk for the time being


This is because of the restructuring of Greece’s Football Pyramid that is set to be raised by the Executive Committee of EPO, with a local report stating the meeting will be on the 27th July and formulate the 2020/2021 season.


From there we will learn the new format of the leagues, whether the 2020/2021 Super League will compete with 16 or 18 teams (the most likely), with PAS Giannina, Apollon Smyrni, Chania and Levadiakos awaiting the developments and rise up the division.


With Apollon Smyrni runner-up in the Super League 2 after the championship was permanently suspended, they would be in the promotion/relegation play-off facing against 13th place Xanthi. Now, there is uncertainty of whether it will go ahead or not, though both teams should make preparations just in case.


However, Evangelos Michos from SPORT 24 has provided brief explanations in a recent article about the future of the Super League and the planned restructure


An amendment tabled by Lefteris Avgenakis, the Deputy Minister of Sport, passed through in April and was in effect at the start of May that allows sports federations associations (Executive Committee of EPO or the Super League board of directors) to make changes for the 2019/2020 season due to COVID-19, thus paves way for restructuring the football pyramid for next season.


Furthermore, now that we have learnt that the final games of Atromitos with Panionios and AEL with Xanthi finished in 0-0 draws, it is now possible that in the upcoming Super League meeting which will reportedly be held sometime next week the amendment will go to voting and pass comfortably, which requires 3/4 to pass


Additionally, with close sources to SPORT 24, the Super League, EPO and Agents, it is now a common secret that Panionios and Xanthi will not be relegated and maintain their stance in the top-flight for the 2020/2021 Super League season and the restructure totalling to 18 teams. For the league to go 16 teams is seems the most unlikely considering the Super league 2 was suspended and not completed.


The catalyst in this situation is NOVA Sports. At first hand, the broadcaster initially rejected the restructure but are now considering the possibility of having one season with 16 or 18 teams, depending on the policies that will be implemented.

 

The restructuring also concerns the Super League 2, with several teams coming into disagreement of restarting the championship and, of course, the plans for restructuring.

For the 2020/2021 season, the second tier is set to be split into two groups of 15 or 16 teams, an idea that is strongly opposed by Panachaiki, but question remains how many teams will earn promotion given the top 4 teams (PAS Giannina, Apollon Smyrni, Chania and Levadiakis) are set for automatic promotion. If this restructuring plan is ratified, the teams from the Football League will compete as the third division could be abolished.


So, there is that, a quick summary of what is currently happening that is all set to be justified towards the end of July, with team preparations only just around the corner commencing in early August as the new Super League season starts on 12th September


Lastly, I’ll finish off by offering one suggestion if the league does go to 16 or 18 teams. Scrap the Play-Off system!


Hellas Football 


Follow @Michael_Vissini

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