There is nothing new about politics and oligarchs getting mixed up, but it is still unusual for a government to intervene to legislate to settle a row between rival teams, but that is what has happened in Greece. The two clubs are Ivan Savvidis's PAOK (based in Thessalonuki) and Vangelis Marinakis's Olympiakos (based in Piraeus). Mr Savvidis has a reputation of enjoying close links with Vladimir Putin. Mr Marinakis is a shipping magnate and the proprietor of a media empire. Both oligarchs are dedicated to their clubs. Mr Savvidis was banned from attending PAOK matches for 12 months after he rushed on the pitch in 2018 to protest against a penalty decision wearing a holstered pistol on his belt. Mr Marinakis was acquitted by the Greek supreme court of charges of match fixing in 2018. Mr Savvidis acquired PAOK in 2012. In 2018 he acquired Xanthi in 2018 in violation of a single investor owning more than one Super League club, leading to a complaint from Mr Marinakis. The ac...