Greek Super League soccer club Volos FC is facing a racism scandal after its president Achilles Beos allegedly displayed racist behaviour during a match against Kifisia FC.
During the game that ended 0-0, Beos, who is also the mayor of Volos, allegedly racially insulted Greek-Ghanaian player Andrews Tetteh, calling him a ‘monkey’.
After the game at Michalis Kritikopoulos Stadium, Kifisia published a video where Beos can be heard using the term.
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According to Inside World Football, Disciplinary Commission of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) investigated the incident and two days after the match, Tetteh was summoned to the Attica Police Headquarters for his testimony.
The Head of Disciplinary Prosecutions for Football Offenses prosecutor Konstantinos Spyropoulos has brought Disciplinary Prosecution against both Beos and the club.
“Achilles Beos as an official of the team PAE Volos NPS he committed a contemptuous and racist act against another because of his colour,” reads an EPO statement.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Tetteh expressed his gratitude for the many messages of support he has received.
“I have received many messages and it has helped me a lot psychologically,” he said.
“Thank you very much for the messages I haven’t answered. And now the world must learn not to be afraid to speak today.
“Today me, tomorrow it could be someone else. With everyone’s help we can change many things that are taken for granted and should not be happening in our society.”
In a statement posted to their website, Volos denied that Tetteh was the target of the insult, saying that Beos shouted – “what a monkey foul you gave” – to the referee.
The club also shared their “disappointment” in the case being referred to authorities.
“We express our surprise and disappointment regarding the strong interest of Minister Yiannis Vroutsis to intervene and refer the “monkey” case of the Kifissia football player to the DAEB and even, according to our information, to provoke the intervention of the Sports Prosecutor,” another statement read.
“Really, for the sake of which democratic sensibility and function does a minister intervene to indicate and impose on institutions and judicial officers how to perform their duties? For what reasons does he consider that he must intervene and influence the decisions of these bodies, ignoring the honesty, impartiality and integrity that should characterize the exercise of his powers?
“Mr Minister, unfortunately you have disappointed… we hope at least that the prosecution against us will not be the only work you will have to show when you leave this position. Such actions and behaviours to influence institutions and functionaries belong to a black, fortunately distant, past and not to a democratic state.”
