Greek soccer club now sponsored by brothel

Soccer may be the world's most popular sport, but that doesn't mean it is immune to a bad economy, especially in Greece.

In order to keep its team financially afloat, the Voukefalas Larissa amateur soccer club in Greece solicited help from two local brothels to help foot the team's bill. The ladies of "Villa Erotica" and "Soula's House of History," were more than happy to oblige.

Yiannis Batziolas, Voukefalas Larissa's team manager and backup goalie, explained to RT.com that while everyone else abandoned the amateur teams, the brothels were there back them up.

“This year, because of the more general financial crisis, that has affected us greatly," Batziolas explained. "We were forced to seek any type of financial support for the club so that we could survive. It was a matter of survival, because otherwise we would have a problem participating in the league."

Brothel owner Soula Alevridou, the team's new sponsor, told the Associated Press that she kicked in 1,000 Euros ($1,312) for players to wear her jerseys during their warm ups and cool downs prior to games. She added that while it is great to see the jerseys on the field, she is really in it for the love of the game.
"It's not the kind of business that needs promotion," she said, "It's a word-of-mouth kind of thing."

Not everyone is excited about the latest sponsor to join the league.

Although prostitution is legal in Greece, league organizers have banned the pink brothel endorsing jerseys during games. The league stated the deal violates "the sporting ideal" and is inappropriate for underage fans, according to Yahoo Sports. 

The haters don't seem to bother Alevirdou who sees helping the team as really helping her country get through tough times. Alevirdou told the AP, "If we don't help our scientists and athletes, where will we be? Greece has educated people, cultured people and good athletes. It's better to help them than take our money to Switzerland."

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/world-at-play/greek-soccer-club-now-sponsored-brothel