Greece’s Euro 2012 squad is a rarity in that it has not been touched by the financial crisis that has all but brought the nation to its knees.
That is not to say that there have not been rumblings of discontent from within the Greek federation, especially over a huge rise in salary for the side’s Portuguese coach Fernando Santos.
The national side’s relative financial health is in contrast to the club scene, where eight teams — including giants Panathinaikos and AEK — could face a ban on transfers and other sanctions if they do not pay wages owed to their players.
Photo: AFP
However, no expense was spared when Santos and his squad — including several veterans from the Euro 2004 title win — jetted off last week to a Euro 2012 training camp at an exclusive resort in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
To be fair, the expense is covered by an extensive sponsorship program that keeps the Hellenic Football Federation from digging deep into its pockets.
While there have been complaints voiced over the 45 percent pay rise for the 67-year-old Santos, who replaced veteran German and Euro 2004 winning coach Otto Rehhagel after the 2010 World Cup, federation president Sophocles Pilavios was having none of it.
“There was a lot of grumbling, but I believe that 600,000 euros a year is an amount that a federation can afford,” a defiant Pilavios told Athenian sports daily Goal. “No one mentions that the federation saved money on the first contract with Fernando Santos. I felt bad that he was receiving only 450,000 euros a year before, and since the federation has an income of 8 million euros [US$10 million] for qualifying for the finals of Euro 2012, I don’t think that the rise is so terrible.”
However, his opinion did not ride easily with board member Vasilis Hatziapostolou.
“I feel it is provocative in the days we are living. The president said we are giving the least amount compared to other federations,” he told the Salonica sports daily Athletiko Metropolis. “There was no vote on the raise from the board members, as it was thought that such a move may damage the preparation of the national team for Euro 2012.”
Pilavios’ defense of the rise by saying that Santos was getting only half what Rehhagel was paid cut little ice with Hatziapostolou.
“We shouldn’t forget that Rehhagel led the team to the European championship. Today’s challenge is much more easier than in 2004,” Hatziapostolou said.
While the national squad has not suffered inevitably, the financial crisis has had a telling impact on the fans.
Pilavios said that only 3,000 to 5,000 Greeks would follow the team in their three group matches.
“I don’t know if the success in a football match has the power to take one out of his problems. I wholeheartedly hope so,” Pilavios said in an interview with Athens weekly newspaper To Vima. “I’m sure that the players can bring uplifting moments to the Greeks.”
However, the financial problems of the clubs have affected players in the squad, but national skipper and Panathinaikos captain Giorgos Karagounis said that they would try and set aside thoughts about whether they would be paid or not.
“Clearly, this is not the best thing for some players, who have an uncertain future,” he said. “There are many problems in football and in the country, and we all live these problems, but when it comes to fight for the national team, there is no room for these thoughts.”
He said it is an extra motivation to give joy to “our compatriots during the tournament, to help them forget for a short time at least the problems of everyday life. Surely, the Greeks are waiting for this joy and we hope to give it to them.”
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