Kostas Tsimikas Left Out of Greece Squad Due to Admin Error
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas was among 24 players called up for duty during the first international break of the campaign, joining Greece for two World Cup qualifiers. However, the 27-year-old only ended up playing one, with it communicated that he and three others would miss the visit of Gibraltar due to suspension.
Tsimikas Forced to Sit Out
Tsimikas had played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands last Thursday, but was forced to sit out alongside Emmanouil Siopis, Dimitrios Kourbelis and Petros Mantalos three days later. According to an official statement from the Greek Football Federation (EPO), the four players were suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
Admin Error Causes Farce
However, this was not the case, with three yellow cards accrued over the World Cup qualifying campaign bringing a one-match suspension. Tsimikas should have been involved against Gibraltar, then, though Greece were able to record a comfortable 5-0 victory without him, Siopis, Kourbelis and Mantalos.
Despite the win, it is a situation that has led to an internal investigation within the EPO, according to the federation’s president, Takis Baltakos. Speaking to Metropolis 95.5 in Greece, Baltakos explained that, while the result against Gibraltar avoided any issues, the mixup “may have consequences in the future.”
Future Suspension a Possibility
“It is a mistake that [technical director Kostas] Konstantinidis and [sports director] Takis Fyssas admitted,” he said. “We will work to determine who was at fault, what happened and will announce the decisions in the coming days.”
If Tsimikas would have been booked against Gibraltar, he would have then been suspended for a trip to the Republic of Ireland in October, but now he runs the risk of missing a clash with the Netherlands instead. He does so now having already sat out of one qualifier needlessly, with the situation considered a farce within the Greek setup.
The admin error has caused a great deal of confusion and embarrassment for the Greek Football Federation and could have serious consequences for Tsimikas in the future. The 27-year-old is now at risk of missing a game against the Netherlands due to suspension if he picks up two yellow cards in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The EPO has launched an internal investigation into the matter and is working to determine who was at fault and what happened. President Takis Baltakos has admitted that while the result against Gibraltar avoided any issues, the mixup “may have consequences in the future.”
Kostas Tsimikas is now in a difficult position as he looks ahead to Greece’s next World Cup qualifier against Ireland in October. He will be hoping that his performance on the pitch will be enough to avoid any further suspensions and ensure he is available for selection for all of Greece’s upcoming matches.