The State of The Greek Second Division

The State of The Greek Second Division

By Konstantinos Massaras


The date is currently September 15th, 2022. 


The Bundesliga is entering their seventh matchday. The Polish Second Division is entering their eleventh matchday. The Armenian Second Division is entering their 9th matchday. 


We are still over one month away from the scheduled start of the Super League Greece 2. 

This season is set to be the fourth year of the Super League 2 since the restructuring of the Greek football system in 2019. In all four seasons of the Super League 2, EPO has had a different relegation/promotion system in place. That’s right. They have changed how many teams get promoted and relegated and have not stuck with one system for even one season. 


Can you remember the last time the English Championship changed the amount of teams going up and down? Sadly, this is one of the more minor problems we are dealing with. The league, along with the entire sport in the country, has become the laughing stock of Europe.


There were fears for quite some time of canceling the season entirely, which would completely decimate whatever is left of Greece’s credibility in European football. Matches finished over six months ago are still being argued in court, and even with the schedule having just been released, it is still not completely certain who will be playing in which division.


Kozani FC finished in first of Group 2 in the 2021/22 Gamma Ethniki, which would put them in the promotion playoffs. Kozani, who had not played in the second division in 40 years, had a fantastic chance to gain promotion. A few days later, Kozani FC was informed that they would not be participating in the promotion playoffs. Makedonikos won an appeal in court that conveniently removed three points from Kozani FC’s season, thus putting them in the promotion playoffs. Though Makedonikos are scheduled to play in the Super League 2 at this time, the matter has not been fully settled. This is just one of the many unresolved issues plaguing our second division.


Greek football players and fans alike are tired of hearing about the ERT TV deals preventing the start of the season, but once again it has become one of the driving factors for the postponement. The payout of gambling winnings was also an issue that needed to be resolved, and we all are definitely tired of hearing about that. 


It would take an extreme optimist at this point to believe match mixing did not still exist. Club licensing is an issue that seems like it will never be resolved due to a severe lack of funding. Any foreign player coming to the second division in Greece to play would be taking a massive gamble on their career. 


It should come as no surprise that FIFPRO included the Greek Super League 2 in their list of leagues players should not transfer to.


To put it simply: They just cannot get it right. It is a true shame that the leaders of EPO have allowed politics, and personal matters interfere with the entire system of Greek football. The true detriment is to the players, who are not getting the chance to boost their careers in a fair manner. 


Who would want to come play here? How are we supposed to develop and discover the young talent that exists in smaller Greek clubs? 


If there is one thing that is clear with the future of Greek football, it is that there is no end in sight.


Hellas Football 


Follow @KostaMassaras on Twitter 

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