Greek Cup final finally finds venue ready for incendiary AEK and PAOK, Albania kept in reserve

May 12 - The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has finally found a venue willing and able to host the Greek Cup final between AEK Athens and PAOK Thessaloniki on May 24. The Panthessaliko stadium in Volos will host a final which will be played behind closed doors.

After weeks of searching for a stadium to host the final, the Volos stadium was finally chosen after the city's mayor, Achilleas Beos, initially refused to grant the Panthessaliko stadium for security reasons . He changed his mind following interviews with the presidents of the two finalists.

For almost a month, the management of the Hellenic Football Federation has been looking for a suitable stadium to host what has been defined as a high-risk match. Cities in Cyprus, England, Germany, Albania and Poland have all been considered as options to host the final.

The final will be played without fans - with both teams only receiving 20 invitations each. The EPO will only receive 50 match passes, which will be distributed to the main sponsors of the competition. The Executive Committee of the Federation may also attend. An option to admit students up to the age of 13, who will be able to enter the stadium for free, is also being discussed. However, this has not yet been officially decided.

"As a postman of the football that I love and have served for many years, I express my deep sadness at the tragic treatment of officials regarding the conduct of a top sporting event such as the Cup final, which instead of a celebration and an opportunity to highlight and spread the world-loved sport becomes another cause of its defamation, but also of the discredit of institutions,” Beos said in a statement. press release.

"With amateur manipulations, in the most indulgent expression, which the sports-loving public watches in amazement, we have been driven to the tragic impasse of not being able to hold the final in a stadium in Greek territory! "In view of this and after private discussions with the owners of the two teams in the final, Mr. Melissanidis and Savvidis, whose strong concerns I understand, I have decided to withdraw my decision not to award the Panthessaliko stadium for the outfit. of the final. of the Greek Cup."

In its own statement, the executive committee of the Greek federation regretted having accepted the conditions of the mayor to host in Volos”, with the footnote that the two finalists do not accept the conditions of the event, wishing the presence of their fans, but they will necessarily accept the conditions set by EPO and Panthessaliko SA.”

The statement goes on to say that if for any reason the match cannot take place on May 24, then it will be moved to the Elbasan Arena, in the city of Elbasan, Albania, "on the same day or the next available and objectively achievable date”.

Contact the author of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1683963345labto1683963345ofdlr1683963345owedi1683963345sni@o1683963345fni1683963345