Liolios arrested, Euroleague suspends referee Caruha

Vasiliki Caruha landed at Athens airport on Wednesday, and police detained her there. The same day, according to Greek media, the president of the Greek Basketball Federation, Vangelis Liolios, was arrested along with several referees and referee officials. Euroleague banned Caruha from officiating in all of its competitions before the day was over.

Who has been detained?

Six arrest warrants were issued. Eurohoops reports that all six people were arrested, while Mozzart Sport, citing the Greek paper Sport24, writes about five people in custody and says police are still looking for an official and former player, Jorgos Mavraganis. According to Sport24, Liolios was detained around noon on Wednesday, and the names differ somewhat between sources:

• Ilijas Koromilas, a former referee and official of the Central Referees Committee
• Petros Papapetru, a referee
• Vasiliki Caruha, a referee, detained after landing in Athens
• Tasos Piloidis, a former international referee and member of the Central Referees Committee
• Panajotis Anastopulos, a referee, listed only by B92

Sources also disagree on Caruha’s status. In one article Eurohoops says she was an active Euroleague referee until yesterday, and in another that she recently retired.

What did Euroleague say about Caruha?

Euroleague issued a statement during the day, which reads:

“In light of media reports on the actions of the Greek authorities toward referee Vasiliki Caruki, Euroleague wishes to clarify the following: referee Vasiliki Caruki is banned from officiating in all competitions under the Euroleague umbrella, until both the investigation led by local authorities and the internal review conducted by Euroleague are concluded.”

So the ban lasts as long as two processes do: the Greek investigation and Euroleague’s internal review of its competitions.

What is known about the investigation?

The case is led by sports prosecutor Apostolis Gramenos. According to Greek media cited by Eurohoops, the investigation lasted three months. Sports minister Janis Vrucis gives a different starting point: evidence was handed to prosecutors on April 21, 2026, submitted by a mechanism the ministry set up, the National Platform for Integrity in Sport (EPATHLA). The two should not be confused, since one is the length of the investigation as media describe it and the other is the date the first evidence arrived.

The suspects were summoned earlier to give statements but did not appear. Nine witnesses have been heard. Two who took bribes themselves came forward as protected witnesses and are seeking full amnesty, and the prosecutor rated their testimony as particularly important, Eurohoops reports.

About 50 fixed games are suspected between 2016 and 2026. Only two are from the top league, and one is the final of a school-age junior tournament played in Cyprus.

Money is a separate question. B92, citing Greek media, writes about 800,000 euros in cash found in the home of one of those arrested. Mozzart, citing the paper ProtoThema, and Eurohoops give 820,000 euros, hidden in a safe at a house outside the city belonging to one of the suspected referees. The origin of that money is part of the investigation.

Minister Vrucis said of the case:

“We are deeply saddened and concerned by the allegations currently under investigation, which, according to reports, concern people in institutional positions in the administration and referee bodies of the Basketball Federation.

The matter is now in the hands of the judicial authorities, in which we have absolute trust. It is up to all of us to respect the investigative process, which, as is well known, is confidential, and to await its findings.

It is important, however, to stress that this investigation was launched after the National Platform for Integrity in Sport (EPATHLA), a mechanism the Ministry of Sport established to fight match-fixing, delivered evidence to the public prosecutor on April 21, 2026.

In practice, this shows that institutional oversight mechanisms work and that the state has both the tools and the determination to recognize cases that call for an investigation and to refer them to the competent authorities.

Sport must inspire trust, operate transparently and be governed by the principle of equality before the law. The rules apply to everyone, without exception, and it is up to the state to ensure that.”

What did Liolios, Janakopulos and Panathinaikos say?

In an earlier two-hour live interview for six outlets, Eurohoops among them, Liolios was asked about the case and rejected all allegations:

“The question of refereeing is raised by those who want to control it, precisely the people I cut off. When you put an end to certain things, it is not easy for someone to accept it. It is usually the one who is losing his privileges who hurls insults.”

Liolios was first elected in 2021 and again in 2026.

Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Janakopulos reacted to the arrests with a message carried by Mozzart Sport: “You wanted a war with me and you thought you would win. I send kisses to you all. You wanted war? War. Now you are a prisoner.”

The club also issued an official statement. It says Panathinaikos AKTOR “remains and continues to compete in games officiated by referees against whom serious charges have been brought, referees who keep hundreds of thousands of euros in cash in their homes.” The club also announces a legal route: “Panathinaikos AKTOR will launch legal proceedings to recover what the regime of corruption has stolen.”

American player Patrick Beverley, who played for PAOK in the 2025/2026 season and earlier for Olympiacos, left a comment under Eurohoops’ Instagram post. He recalled Caruha from a game against Panathinaikos: “She officiated in one of the games against Panathinaikos. I knew it! Shame!”

What happens next?

Those arrested are expected to be brought before a prosecutor on Thursday, October 22. According to Eurohoops, a criminal investigator then decides on possible charges, or on release if there is no evidence, and under Greek law can also order detention until trial. The allegations have not been proven in court.

There is also a deadline for Liolios. If he is formally charged, the federation’s board must replace him within 15 days. If it does not, the minister steps in, the board is dissolved and new elections are called.

Koromilas’s name has come up in a story like this before. Mozzart recalls that in 2023 Ukrainian referee Nikola Ambrosov claimed that he was offered 10,000 euros through Boris Rizik to officiate the 2021 EuroCup final in favor of Unics Kazan. Euroleague then ran an independent investigation, found no clear evidence and closed the case.

The next date is clear: on Thursday, October 22, the investigator decides on charges or on releasing those arrested.