Volos president Achilleas Beos has made explosive allegations following his side’s 2-1 defeat to AEK Athens, claiming the result was manipulated and calling for a criminal investigation into the match officials. Greek football has been plunged into controversy after AEK Athens were awarded a highly disputed penalty during their dramatic victory over Volos on Sunday.
Former Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic was at the centre of the incident after going down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Volos defender Giannis Kargas. Referee Fotis Polychronis pointed to the spot and, despite a VAR check, the decision was allowed to stand. Jovic converted the penalty to put AEK ahead, with the Serbian international later scoring an 88th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
President’s Explosive Allegations and Match Fallout
The result has sparked a furious reaction in Greece, with Volos president Achilleas Beos accusing the officials of influencing the outcome and making extraordinary allegations about betting activity surrounding the match. Beos claimed he had received information suggesting millions of euros had been wagered on an AEK victory and announced his intention to report the matter to the public prosecutor.
He also called for referee Polychronis and VAR official Athanasios Tzilos to be investigated and temporarily removed from officiating duties. While these allegations have not been independently substantiated, and there is no verified evidence linking AEK or the match officials to match-fixing or improper betting activity, the fallout has captured national attention.
Referee’s AEK Record Comes Under Scrutiny
The controversy has also brought renewed attention to Polychronis’s recent record in matches involving AEK. Across the last three AEK league fixtures he has officiated, the Athens club have been awarded three penalties, while two opposition players have been sent off. Both dismissals came during Sunday’s match against Volos, with Giorgos Mygas and Hamza Mendyl receiving their marching orders in the closing stages. Although AEK won all three matches, analysts note that the statistics alone do not establish any formal wrongdoing by the referee.
Nevertheless, the latest penalty decision has drawn heavy criticism from Greek football analysts and former referees who questioned whether Jovic had actually been fouled, compounded by Volos’s frustration over having a first-half goal ruled out for offside following a VAR intervention.
Confrontations and Manager Reactions
Beos did not hold back in his assessment of the officiating, describing the decisions as shameful before detailing his plans to file a formal complaint with the prosecutor’s office. He also took aim at Jovic over the manner in which he won the penalty, insisting that the Serbian striker had gone to ground too easily. Beos’s anger spilled over after the final whistle when he became involved in a brief confrontation with AEK goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli, though Greek media subsequently reported that the pair spoke privately and resolved their differences.
Meanwhile, Volos head coach Kostas Bratsos expressed his frustration after watching his side come agonisingly close to a result, pointing to the disallowed goal and AEK’s penalty as the two defining turning points. With Beos demanding a criminal investigation, this ongoing controversy threatens to completely overshadow AEK’s dramatic victory as fresh questions are raised regarding officiating standards across Greek football.
