UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino received assurances from the Greek government that changes will be made to a proposed sports law, which will help the country avoid a suspension from international competition.
According to Infantino, the outcome of the meeting with Greece's deputy sports minister Stavros Kontonis and other officials was positive, but he awaits written confirmation. He stated,
I think that the outcome of the meeting was positive but we're not there yet.
Infantino emphasized that it is essential to protect the self-governance of the Greek federation, saying
It is essential that the self-governance of the Greek federation is protected. We will not accept a law which puts into question the self-governance of the federation.
The Greek football federation president Giorgos Gkirtzikis also confirmed that the government had assured him the changes will be made, citing concerns about a potential ban from international competition.
FIFA and UEFA had previously warned that the country's national and club sides face a ban from international competition if the Greek parliament adopts legislation abolishing the independence of the federation. The warning was issued in a fax signed by Jerome Valcke and Infantino, the Secretary Generals of FIFA and UEFA respectively.
The proposed sports law aims to tackle violence in sport and includes provisions for fines, event postponements, and bans from European competition. It also outlines guidelines for camera usage, electronic ticketing, and referee financial disclosures.
