ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The head of Greece’s soccer federation claims Armenian accusations of game-fixing attempts in a crucial Euro 2004 qualifier have done “tremendous” damage to Greece’s reputation.
In a letter made public Friday, Vassilis Gagatsis also repeated the firm denials of the claims that Greek soccer bosses tried to bribe Armenian players to throw the Sept. 6 match. Greece won the game 1-0 to remain on top of its group.
European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, has opened an investigation into the claims.
Gagatsis said the “damage done to the Greek soccer and the Greek Soccer Federation is tremendous.”
“The Greek national team has won all of its games in a worthy fashion on the pitch and nobody can doubt that,” Gagatsis wrote in the letter to his Armenian counterpart, Ruben Airapetian.
Airapetian has said the bribery accusations came from Ervand Sukiasian, a former national team player now living in Greece. Sukiasian claimed he had been authorized by Gagatsis to offer money for an Armenian loss.
The UEFA report is expected before the final series of qualifying matches Oct. 11.
Greece leads Group Six with 15 points, one point ahead Spain. It hosts Northern Ireland in the last game and Spain travels to Armenia.
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