Greek Football Team's 'Brothels Kit' Banned

A football club in cash-strapped Greece thought it had found a way to keep up with the bills by signing sponsorship deals with two brothels - but it is not being allowed to wear the shirts.

Voukefalas Larissa's new kit is bright pink and emblazoned with the logos of Villa Erotica and Soula's House of History.

By contrast, their rivals turned to kebab shops, a jam factory and a cheese maker to see them through the season.

The club's president Yiannis Batziolas said: "Unfortunately, amateur football has been abandoned by practically everyone.

"This year, because of the more general financial crisis, that has affected us greatly. We were forced to seek any type of financial support for the club so that we could survive."

Although prostitution is legal in Greece and neon signs promoting brothels are commonplace, Voukefalas players are banned from wearing the shirts during games.

League organisers said the sponsorship is inappropriate for underage fans and claimed the advertisements violate "the sporting ideal".

But the team's new benefactor, Soula Alevridou, owner of Soula's House of History, said: "They advertise sports betting firms and various lottery and sports betting games. What are these? Aren't they gambling?"

The 67-year-old grandmother paid 1,000 euros (£812) for her sponsorship deal with Voukefalas, which is now appealing the ban.

The club, made up of students, a bartender, waiters and pizza delivery drivers, is not the only Greek sports team to be struggling financially.

Earlier this year, the country's Amateur Athletics Federation suspended its activities for several weeks to protest against funding cuts.