Five more join AEK exodus
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Article summary
AEK Athens FC have been forced to release five more players following a court ruling.
Article body
Free agents
Central defender Mihalis Kapsis, playmaker Vassilios Tsiartas and midfield player Vassilios Lakis, who were all part of Greece's victorious EURO 2004™ squad, as well as striker Dimitrios Nalitzis and left-back Michalis Kasapis, have all been allowed to sever links with AEK and seek new employment.
Unpaid wages
The decision follows a petition the quintet recently filed to the EPAE (the Greek Football League) on the grounds of unpaid wages. They must now await the court's decision on the amount of money owed to them by the club next week. Goalkeeper Sotirios Lyberopoulos has also left AEK after signing for Aris Thessaloniki FC.
Courting unhappiness
It was not the best of days in the courts for AEK as they also learned that the decision on whether or not they should be liquidated by the state would be postponed until 2 September - much later than they had anticipated.
New deal
More positively for AEK though, striker Nikolaos Lyberopoulos has agreed a three-year extension to his existing contract. The deal comes just one day after 29-year-old midfield player Christos Kontis, signed for next season.
