Olympiakos boss fines players

Olympiakos president Evangelos Marinakis on Monday fined the team 500,000 for disappointing performances and called on them to make a "sacrifice" to win trophies or leave.
"Olympiakos is the largest Greek club and for each of you it is an honour to play for this team. You will have to respect and honour Olympiakos," Marinakis told the players.
"Anyone who has a problem or does not like it here, must have the guts to get up and leave and that applies to everyone."
He added: "As long as you are playing for Olympiakos, you will give everything and sacrifice for this jersey. You will win the league championship and the Greek Cup. Nothing else goes through my mind. Put it well in your minds and do it accordingly.”
 Marinakis said the fines were imposed because of the recent 2-0 Europa League loss to Ntnipro of Ukraine and a 1-1 Greek Cup draw with second-division AEK Athens.
Olympiakos have been eliminated from the Champions League and Europa League. But they are six points ahead in the domestic Super League with nine matches remaining.
Meanwhile, Super League clubs on Monday called on the government to lift a ban on championship games imposed after trouble involving Olympiakos fans.
The government called off games scheduled for last weekend after the battles between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos fans.
Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis is expected to announce on Wednesday whether the Super League can resume action.
“We unanimously decided to ask the minister to continue the championship, showing that football with violence is not wanted by anyone. The immediate response to violence is commitment. But do not expect everything to change with a magic button. It needs work,” said Super League president Giorgos Borovilos.
The measures proposed by the Super League include full implementation of electronic ticketing, security cameras at all stadiums, strict penalties for supporters who cause problems, a ban on organised supporters' movements until the end of the season. Referees would be given the right to referees to halt matches when fans hurl flares or other objects or invade the pitch.
Serious crowd unrest occurred during the last league match between Athens area arch-rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos in February.
That was followed two days later with officials from the two clubs clashing at a meeting of the Super League intended to bring the two sides together.
Source: AFP