Cleared Papadopoulos snubs rival offers to repay Aloisi’s faith

Grateful Avram Papadopoulos has repaid the “faith and loyalty” of coach John Aloisi by rejecting lucrative offers in his native Greece and Thailand to stick with Brisbane Roar.

The rugged defender was signed 20 months ago by Aloisi and then football director Craig Moore, despite being under a legal cloud over betting allegations made against him while at Olympiakos.

But on Friday a Greek court quashed the suspended two- and-a-half year jail sentence imposed upon the 33-year-old in March for his alleged role in “Koriopolis”, the match-fixing scandal that shook Greek football.

The verdict, which was delivered on appeal, lifted the doubts over his character and conduct which had cost him a contract with Melbourne City, before Aloisi stepped to bring him to Queensland.

Going into Sunday’s A-League season-opener against Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium, Papadopoulos’ European-based agent Sakis Tzikas revealed the depth of the debt the stopper feels he owes Aloisi.

“The fact is he had offers in Greece and Thailand which, to be honest, would have brought him greater financial reward than the A-League,” said Tzikas.

“But he wasn’t tempted because he wanted to show his respect to John and the club for showing their loyalty in standing by him.

“He has a lot of faith in John and wanted to make a statement that he would stick with him because John was there for him during a testing period.”

Papadopoulos made just 15 appearances last season, with a seven-match ban for spitting and an ankle injury, interrupting his campaign.

But Tzikas said the Sydney-born stopper is feeling refreshed, revitalized and relieved that a heavy burden has been lifted.

“Avram always maintained his innocence but it’s been a difficult time for both him and his family,” he added.

“He was captain of Olympiakos at the time and it was not easy for him being such a public figure with this hanging over him.

“The allegations and charges really went against everything he is and stands for as a person.

“But there was even a time people at Olympiakos may have begun to doubt him.

“He knew he was innocent, but proving that was the most important thing.

“He felt bad having all the suspicion and doubts surrounding him.

“But he stayed strong within himself and his family and he’s now been totally cleared.”