Three of Greece’s top clubs have threatened to pull out of this season’s Super League in a dispute over refereeing selections, throwing the start of the new season into doubt.

Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK Salonika all said they would refuse to take part because the Greek Football Federation (EPO) had compiled the list of referees for the season without consulting them or the league.

Panathinaikos said in a statement yesterday that they would “refuse to participate in another championship scarred by dubious refereeing.”

AEK described the situation as “a criminal theatre of the absurd surrounding Greek football”.

“It’s impossible for the league to start and for us to participate in these conditions,” added PAOK, who also called on EPO president Giorgos Gkirtzikis to resign.

The season in Greece is due to start on August 20.

In April, Greece came close to being suspended from international football after the government had ordered the Greek Cup final to be cancelled following crowd violence at a semi-final between PAOK and Olympiakos Piraeus.

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