Decision on Olympiakos Volos delayed a week

The Greek Football Federation on Friday postponed a final decision on whether Kavala and Europa League hopefuls Olympiakos Volos should be relegated for their roles in a match-fixing scandal. Citing the need for more time to study the match-fixing case, the federation's appeals committee said it will most likely announce its decision next Thursday. European football's governing body UEFA are awaiting a final decision from Greece on the matter before they can decide if Olympiakos Volos will take their place in the Europa League playoffs. They were drawn to face French giants Paris Saint-Germain in Friday's Europa League draw in Nyon, Switzerland. However, if the Greek Federation's appeals committee upholds the decision to relegate them, UEFA would be expected to expel the club from the Europa League. The Greek Super League said last Thursday Olympiakos Volos and Kavala were each to be relegated to the second division and fined 300,000 euros for their role in the scandal, while their respective owners, Achilleas Beos and Makis Psomiadis, were banned for life from attending matches. Beos was arrested in June and accused of being at the centre of a ring that fixed matches so members could make money from betting on the games. Psomiadis remains at large, although his son, Stavros, who is officially Kavala's president, was arrested and released on bail. Dozens of angry Olympiakos Volos fans protested outside the Greek federation offices earlier this week. Both clubs argued that the decision is invalid, and would fight to remain in the 16-team Super League. The clubs also argued that Beos and Psomiadis -- who were also fined 90,000 euros each -- have yet to stand trial.