Greek Prime Kyriakos Mitsotakis asks UEFA for elite referees in their Super League Play-Offs

Greek Prime Kyriakos Mitsotakis asks UEFA for elite referees in their Super League Play-Offs, after Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis criticised the standard of officials in the country

  • The standard of refereeing in Greece has come under fire in recent weeks
  • Prime Minister Kyriakos Misotakis has now asked UEFA to provide elite referees
  • It comes after criticism from Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis 

Greece prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has contacted UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin to request the appointment of elite referees for their upcoming Super League Play-Off matches.

Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis this week hit out at the standard of refereeing following a meeting with the Greek FA (EPO) and referees chief Steve Bennett.

Olympiacos beat Volos in their first play-off game and face Aris on Sunday but their match with was blighted by what Marinakis believed were a number of questionable decisions by officials.

Former Premier League referee Steve Bennett, who is understood to earn around €400,000 in his role as head of refereeing in Greece, has come under fierce criticism from Marinakis and other club owners who have blamed his choice of officials for the games for decreasing standards.

On leaving the meeting with Greek FA officials and Bennett this week, Marinakis told the waiting reporters: ‘You expect me to tell you what EPO is? Don’t you know what EPO is? EPO is the worst thing there is.’

Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been critical of refereeing in Greece

The Greek Prime Minister has called for UEFA to provide elite referees

Former Premier League official Steve Bennett is refereeing chief in Greece

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (left) has called on UEFA to provide elite officials after pressure on refereeing chief Steve Bennett (right)

The Greek government has now asked UEFA’s assistance to reorganise the Greek football federation.

A spokesperson for the Greek prime minister said: ‘Yes, the Prime Minister has had contact with the President of UEFA. 

‘In our country we have a championship that is one of the most competitive in recent years and I think we all want everyone involved and obviously the refereeing, to contribute so that the next few rounds of matches are transparent.

‘Let everyone contribute to this competitive league to be completed and finished in the best possible conditions and with referees of a high standard whose prestige and effectiveness will not be questioned.’

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