AEK Athens fail in appeal bid

An appeal by AEK Athens to have their punishment for crowd violence overturned failed as the Greek Football Federation (EPO) upheld the Greek Super League sanction that led to the club’s relegation.

AEK, who dropped from the top flight last week, were docked three points from this season and fined €4,000 after the 14 April match at home to Panthrakikos was abandoned when home fans chased both sets of players off the pitch.

Panthrakikos were awarded a 3-0 win for the match, which was stopped after AEK had conceded an 87th-minute goal to go 1-0 behind against their fellow strugglers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

AEK, who will start next season in the second tier with a further two points deducted, had been fighting to at least get the chance to play the final three minutes of the abandoned match. “The EPO court of appeal has accepted the punishment administered by the Super League and rejects outright AEK’s appeal,” the federation said in a statement.

The sanction led to AEK being relegated for the first time in their 89-year history.

AEK are the second club to receive such a penalty, following Panathinaikos, who received the same five-point deduction after last season’s derby with Olympiakos Piraeus was abandoned.

The decision closes the book on the club’s most turbulent season. AEK have been operating on a shoestring budget following a period of financial turmoil in which virtually the entire first-team squad was sold off in order to secure a licence and preserve their top-flight status.

Related topics: