UEFA President Michel Platini visits Greece

UEFA President Michel Platini has visited Greece for talks with senior members of the Greek government.

The discussions took place in Athens on Tuesday at the request of the Greek prime minister, Giorgos A Papandreou. Messrs Platini and Papandreou were joined by Greece's minister of culture and tourism, Pavlos Geroulanos, who is also in charge of sport as well as Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) president Sofoklis Pilavios and UEFA's deputy general secretary Theodore Theodoridis.

The various parties agreed in fruitful talks that UEFA will work hand-in-hand with the EPO to find solutions in four key areas – violence, corruption and match-fixing, doping and refereeing. UEFA will put its know-how and resources at the service of the EPO, specialist expert groups will be sent to Greece, and UEFA will propose a programme to improve the situation in the areas in question.

Prime minister Papandreou requested UEFA's advice on the development of football in schools and women's football. The latter area will be another topic of focus in future co-operation between UEFA and the Greek national association.

Talks also centred on sports legislation which is currently being prepared by the Greek government. Out of respect for the independence of the EPO and the sports movement, the government will consult both UEFA and the national association before finalising the legislation.