EuroLeague suspends Greek referee amid match-fixing probe

EuroLeague Basketball has placed Greek referee Vaso Tsarouha on availability status, removing her from officiating in all its competitions until local authorities complete their investigation and the league finishes its internal review. The move follows Tsarouha's arrest and appearance before an Athens prosecutor.

Greek authorities arrested Vangelis Liolis, president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, early Wednesday morning along with four other people. Later that day, Giorgos Mavraganis, an associate of Liolis, voluntarily presented himself to prosecutors and was arrested under an existing warrant.

“The rules”

The investigation centers on allegations of bribery and match-fixing in Greek basketball over the past decade, covering youth and school leagues through the top A1 division. Authorities say they are examining roughly 50 games, including at least one match played abroad.

Investigators reportedly found about 800,000 euros in cash at one suspect's residence without a corresponding justification. Eight witnesses testified in total during the probe, with two considered key because they allegedly had inside knowledge of how matches were fixed.

The case began after Amarusios basketball club filed a complaint in April, drawing attention to the federation's operations and Liolis. All suspects are expected to appear before an investigating magistrate in Athens on Thursday morning, after which the magistrate will decide who will be remanded in custody.