21.05.2015 21:38 h

Greeks to continue talks with UEFA over bill changes

Greek Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis said Thursday that talks with football governing body UEFA will continue in order to make changes to the controversial bill to curb violence in domestic sports.

"It is known that from the beginning we chose to have a frank dialogue with the international federations, and in particular UEFA, as part of the effort to reorganize Greek sports," Kontonis said.

He said that on Thursday he received a letter from UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino informing him that "UEFA is ready to assist with respect to any further revision of the Greek sports legislation."

Kontonis expressed confidence that "imaginative scenarios and predictions that circulated in the media about the country's teams being suspended from international competition will end."

The Greek parliament earlier this month voted into law the bill after bowing to pressure for changes from UEFA and FIFA.

European governing body UEFA together with world body FIFA had warned Greece that amendments focusing on the right of the government to intervene with the affairs of the country's football federation would not be tolerated and would lead to the federation's suspension.

Opposition political parties also criticised the leftist government for trying to interfere with professional football in Greece.

"Our objective was not to exclude our teams from international competitions but to bring order," Kontonis said.

Under the new legislation fines ranging from 10,000 euros to 25 million euros ($11,000-27.5m, £7,160-17.9m) for violent incidents can be imposed as well as the postponement or cancellation of sporting events.

The new legislation also introduces guidelines for the use of security cameras, electronic ticketing, heavy fines to media outlets for showing or inciting violence and prison terms for individuals from unofficial supporters clubs for issuing tickets.

The bill also calls on referees to submit financial statements of their wealth to the relevant authorities.