Justification Gonda and Foufi in the years controversy with EEC

The referees Spyros Gondon and Giannis Foufis They have been justified in the litigation that has been with the EEC for almost seven years. The two, along with Elias Koromilas and Petros Papapetrou, had been out of panels because of their choice to whistle in the Euroleague and moved in court. The change of administration by George Vassilakopoulos to Vangelis Liolio did not change the federation’s stance, and the two referees who continued their legal struggle secured compensation.

The announcement of the law firm that represents them:

One of the most important judicial funds that tarnished Greek basketball and Greek arbitration in the period 2017-2018 permanently closes with the final decision of the Athens Court of Appeal in favor of international referees Spyros Gonda and Ioannis Foufis.

It is recalled that in 2017, the then EEC President George Vassilakopoulos and the members of the KED/EEC (Symeonidis, Mouzakis, Tavoulareas, Koromilas, Papadopoulos) arbitrarily and abusively the exclusion of the four Greek referees, (Euroleague).

Following the appeal of the four to the ASEAD, a decision was made that justified the referees, restoring the legality that the administration of Vassilakopoulos did not respect.

Elias Koromilas and Petros Papapetrou then compromise with the then EEC administration and returned to Greek arbitration without claiming any moral or material compensation.

On the contrary, Spyros Gondas and Ioannis Foufis chose to appeal against the EEC, George Vassilakopoulos and the members of the KED/EEC, seeking compensation for escaping profits and for moral damage. The Athens Court of First Instance justified them.

Elias Koromilas, Petros Papapetrou and Costas Bousias (then and now President of the OKKA), were particularly interesting that in the original trial at the Court of First Instance, as witnesses to the EEC (then, and now the president of the OKKA), who with their testimonies moved in direct contradiction with their reality. However, despite the public commitments of current EEC President Vangelis Lioliou to respect the judicial decisions, the new administration has appealed, seeking to overturn the two referees’ first -instance justification.

With a high sense of athletic and fellow responsibility, as opposed to Koromila, Papapetrou and Boussia, Mr. Spyros Gondas and Ioannis Foufis withdrew, before the appeal to the Court of Appeal, any further claim against the former members of the KED, even in statements by these members, that their actions against the two referees had been made at the time.

With 2595/2025 and 2812/2025 his final decisions, the Athens Court of Appeal also justified Spyros Gonda and Ioannis Foufis. The only thing that the new EEC administration finally did was to increase the total amount of the compensation by about 70% of the original decision, due to the addition of interest and costs imposed by the final decisions of the Court of Appeal.

At the same time, Mr Liolios, against his commitments, chose to reward those who falsely lodged themselves at the expense of their colleagues:

• Elias Koromilas was appointed to the president’s arbitration consultant,

• Petros Papapetrou extended the age limit to stay active

referee,

• And Costas Bousias returned as the president of the OKKA and the choice of Lioliou.

Spyros Gondas – Ioannis Foufis:

“Justice has completely restored our truth and dignity. We have never been moved by revenge but with the sole aim of defending our honor against unfair and guided decisions. We thank the Greek Justice and those who stood by us on this long journey.

This hypothesis is a strong reminder that respect for legality, justice and ethics cannot sacrifice the altar of purpose and personal interests. Greek basketball and Greek arbitration deserve transparency, integrity and

reliability“