Pizza Fan mammoth fraud, fixed basketball matches and EEZ: today's headlines
Tax evasion exceeding €150 million at Pizza Fan, match-fixing ring involving 49 basketball games, and diplomatic moves over Greece's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Pizza Fan, fixed matches and EEZ: today's main stories
Developments unfolded on multiple fronts today, according to Ethnos: from the Pizza Fan tax evasion case and the match-fixing ring in Greek basketball, to diplomatic moves over the Greece–Egypt Exclusive Economic Zone.
Pizza Fan: illegal software, suitcases of cash and 23 arrests
The estimated damage to the state from unpaid VAT exceeds €35 million, while total tax evasion is estimated at over €150 million. The key tool was reportedly illegal software that made receipts "disappear" from cash registers through a "free receipt" option — mainly for cash transactions under €40.
At the home of the chain's owner, €1,280,000 in cash was found in suitcases, along with 92 luxury watches and jewellery, as well as special safes. The methodology exploited telephone orders, a call centre, and the franchising network. Police made 23 arrests, while another 109 people are included in the investigation file.
According to the authorities, no shop could open unless it implemented the method. A key role is attributed to a 57-year-old operations director who handled complaints and coordinated shop managers.
The case creates uncertainty for approximately 2,500 employees at 110 shops, with many remaining inactive while inspections continue. The company, in a statement, apologises for disruption to franchisees and staff, citing extensive promotional activities with free products that "may have created confusion in turnover calculations".
Fixed basketball matches: 49 matches under scrutiny, statements and testimonies
Six arrested individuals are being prosecuted for acts from the last decade within a match-fixing ring in Greek basketball. Under investigation are 49 matches referred to the Hellenic Betting Commission to establish whether they were included in betting lists.
Former referee Petros Papapirou gave a statement lasting approximately 2.5 hours. €820,000 was found at his home, with him presenting income evidence from 2001–2026 totalling up to €1.5 million — from refereeing, forestry service, and family sources — arguing the money is legitimate. He disputes testimony about bribes, stating that at two of the alleged meetings he was elsewhere.
A former referee's testimony refers to the nickname "Grammaros" for Papapirou, with messages to a manager about "500000 1500 g", which the witness interprets as "bribery".
Greek Basketball Federation president Vangelis Liolios will give his statement on Sunday. His lawyer describes the charge as "flawed" and notes the absence of messages about match-fixing.
A key witness, who owned teams for many years, describes paying €100,000 "at Coffee Island headquarters", with the recipient — according to his claims — being then-Promitheas coach Makis Giatras, "in a bag" with the note that "Vangelis couldn't come". The investigation file also mentions businessman Mavraganes as a close friend of Liolios with "informal influence on refereeing", and he is among the arrested.
A protected witness alleges that in 2018, in the Faros Larissa–Aris match for top-flight survival, he paid €5,000 as a "gift" in relation to then-Aris coach Panagiotis Gianakis. According to the same testimony, the referee sent off a player with two technical fouls before half-time and "winked at him". Gianakis's lawyer, Andreas Mitsenas, states that the former federation coach wishes to give a statement on Monday and support the charge.
Giorgos Bogris alleges that an attempt was made to remove him from Promitheas through successive technical fouls, citing a relevant clause in his contract.
Olympiacos denies any involvement in a statement, emphasising that "there is not a single reference" to the team. Panathinaikos's General Manager states that during finals "there were players who asked us not to play" in matches, "last year and this year". AEK BC declares its intention to support the charge and seek compensation, with reference to the 2020 Cup final.
Shocking also are testimonies from a school championship in Thessaloniki: a referee in a semi-final allegedly "executed 52 free throws" in favour of one team to advance to the top tier, later saying "if I don't get what's owed to me, the first division, I won't referee again". Students describe whistles "beyond any rule".
The authorities have proceeded with seizures of mobile phones and money, with Greek police awaiting orders from the investigating magistrate.
EEZ: Athens and Cairo begin talks, letter to the UN
Greece and Egypt agreed to begin discussions on extending the Exclusive Economic Zone, while the Greek side sent a letter of protest to the UN reiterating that "the forged Turkish–Libyan memorandum is void and baseless".
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, following his meeting in Constantinople with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, reiterated the categorical rejection of the 2019 memorandum. The Turkish side expressed understanding of concerns and the need to continue consultations. At operational level, a Greece–Israel joint exercise included Spike NLOS missile launches from a missile boat and a special vessel of the Hellenic Navy.
Source: Ethnos