Greece imports referees as fix for soccer violence

When Greek league rivals AEK Athens and PAOK Thessaloniki met last season, a disallowed goal late in the match - which was, finally, allowed - threw the sport into chaos.

PAOK's owner stormed onto the field in protest with a gun strapped to his belt, the league was suspended for two weeks and FIFA forced Greece to make a series of urgent reforms or face expulsion from international competition.

On Sunday, the two teams played again, under new regulations that league organizers hope will finally keep the peace. Referees are now being imported for controversial matches involving major clubs where there is a potential for violence. Finnish referee Mattias Gestranius and his linesmen were the first foreigners to be in charge of a Greek league game in 43 years.

By all accounts, the experiment at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki was a success.

"Gestranius shut...