Prosecutor calls soccer chiefs to answer questions over attack on referee

A prosecutor who deals with sporting issues has called the chairmen of two of Greece’s biggest soccer clubs as well as the head of the country’s soccer federation to answer questions relating to an assault on a referee last week.

Prosecutor Constantinos Simitzoglou has asked Olympiakos president Vangelis Marinakis, AEK chairman Dimitris Melissanidis and Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) chief Giorgos Sarris to provide more information on the attack suffered by Christoforos Zografos, who is also the vice president of EPO’s refereeing committee.

Zografos was attacked with an iron bar after receiving threats on his phone. Accoridng to reports, Marinakis alleged during a meeting of soccer chiefs that Melissanidis ordered the assault. The AEK supremo denies any involvement.

Sarris claimed in an interview with state broadcaster NERIT over the weekend that the head of the refereeing committee, retired Scottish referee Hugh Dallas, told him he has also been threatened. Sarris said he had not alerted authorities as Dallas did not give him any more details.

Matches in Greece’s professional soccer leagues have been suspended following the attack on Zografos.