Police officer in NGO fraud case: betting against his team and contacts with referees
Phone conversations reveal involvement of police officer and NGO owner in betting and manipulation of referees in third-tier national league matches.
Police officer with administrative role in team placed bets against it
The contents of phone conversations published by kathimerini.gr raise serious questions about the relationship between a police officer and a 37-year-old NGO owner, who is alleged to have simultaneously held an administrative position at a football club in the third-tier national league.
According to the investigation's findings, during the 2024–2025 competitive season the police officer served as technical director of the same team, whilst maintaining close contacts with the NGO owner.
Bets against his own team
An examination of betting activity revealed that the police officer had repeatedly placed bets against teams in which he held an administrative position or with which he was connected. Specifically, seven bets were recorded against one team, four against a second team, and fourteen against a third — with the team of which he was a member suffering defeat in all of these matches. The NGO owner is alleged to have engaged in corresponding betting activity.
The police officer's bets were ultimately voided by the provider and his account was deactivated due to the administrative position he held at the club. He subsequently lodged a complaint, claiming that he had won a significant sum of money.
Meeting with the chairman of the refereeing committee
Particular interest attaches to a conversation in which the NGO owner describes to the police officer his meeting with the chairman of the competent refereeing committee. According to what is reported, the selection of a referee for a specific match was discussed, with him requesting the appointment of referees to his liking.
The recorded conversation is as follows:
> NGO owner: Yes, mate. I met with the chief referee last night. > > NGO owner: And I tell him, I want you to make appointments, the ones I want. And he says to me, do you need that now? Do you need it for A…? I say, I don't need it, but because they've been big-mouthed, I want to cut them down to size, make a show of strength. > > NGO owner: And he says to me, who do you want us to put in? I say, tell me someone. And he says to me, do you want to give some pocket money? I say, yes. And he says to me, leave it to me. I'll tell the referee you want. As long as we need to play, we'll play so you can win. > > Police officer: Hahaha! Five hundred quid? > > NGO owner: Five hundred? Three hundred euros. Three hundred euros and I told him, if you show a red card to certain footballers, you'll get another three hundred.
Comments during a match
In another recorded conversation, during a match, the police officer communicates with the NGO owner to be informed of the score:
> NGO owner: 1-0 B… is winning, with a non-existent penalty and a red card they've got, haha! > > Police officer: Who did he send off, mate? > > NGO owner: I don't know the specific footballer. > > NGO owner: Non-existent red, non-existent penalty.
New contact with refereeing committee in September
In a conversation on 21 September 2026, the NGO owner informs the police officer that he has discussed with the chairman of the refereeing committee the possibility of influencing a second match. The chairman is alleged to have told him that he could intervene through the appointment of a suitable referee. The NGO owner viewed the prospect positively, characterising it characteristically as a "massacre".
In another conversation, he gives specific betting instructions to the police officer:
> NGO owner: Play, play over two and a half H… and goal goal. Put, put, push, push. > > Police officer: What time are they playing? > > NGO owner: They're playing now, push it at half-time. > > NGO owner: H… Under 19 with A…, over and goal-goal. > > Police officer: Over two and a half and goal-goal?
Income and tax strategy
In a phone conversation on 29 August 2026, the NGO owner informs the police officer that he is paying an instalment of 5,500 euros to the tax authority, having declared income of 180,000 euros. The police officer asks him whether the money comes from the club; his interlocutor mentions multiple sources of income: a car rental company, other business activities, and salary from the club. According to the conversation, he deliberately chose to declare high income in order to pay high taxes and thereby reduce, in his estimation, the likelihood of investigation by the authorities in the event of a complaint.
"It's only a matter of time before they catch him"
In a conversation on 8 October 2026, the police officer relays to the NGO owner information he is alleged to have heard from third parties regarding a possible arrest of him:
> Police officer: He says, it's only a matter of time before they catch him too. The way I'm telling you. And I say, did he say that? And he says, yes. He says, what is K… doing? Is he doing something illegal? I say, no mate, what illegal? He has a club. > > NGO owner: Well, of course I believe it. > > Police officer: No, he doesn't lie. He told me exactly that phrase. It's only a matter of time, they'll catch him too.
Subsequently the NGO owner advises the police officer not to mention the club when discussing his activities with third parties, but instead to cite the car businesses and his other commercial interests.
> NGO owner: You don't mention the club. Say he has cars, he has this, he has one thing, he has another. > > Police officer: I said, he has a shop in Kalamaria too, he has various things. He's involved with various things.
Source: Google News CY — Crime (el)