Greece’s Old Firm facing a genuine challenge

Football sometimes seems like politics in disguise but in Greece, the opposite is also true, writes David Shonfield.

The Greek general election on Sunday week could be a turning point for the country, with implications for the rest of the EU as well. Alongside the big issues — austerity, unemployment, debt, social welfare — football and football loyalties may also have a significant impact.

In football, as in politics, the old certainties are no longer there. True, Olympiakos are top of the league as ever, but only just. The upstart competition comes from PAOK, who previously won the league 30 years ago. It is 20 years since the stranglehold of Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was last broken.