Greek booters cry foul

ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — The first minute of matches in the Greek Super League was not played as a protest in support of uninsured players in the second division.

“For 60 seconds, we leave the ball and stand up against injustice, against those who have not understood that the player is an employee and has rights,” the Panhellenic Professional Football Players Association said in a statement.

The association said they stand united in claiming the “obvious — insurance coverage for our Super League 2 players and their protected members.”

All weekend matches in the Super League will begin in the second minute.

“The Greek Football Federation should not have allowed matches to be played with uninsured players. It is reminiscent of medieval times,” said association president

Giorgos Bantis, a goalkeeper for Lamia, in an interview on Sport FM radio.

Super League 2 teams were involved in Greek Cup matches on Wednesday with uninsured players and the regular season for the division begins on 29 September.