The Greek football federation on Friday appealed to the country's supreme court to overturn a government decision to cancel this season's Greek Cup due to crowd trouble.

The federation called last week's decision by Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis "unconstitutional and illegal".

Kontonis announced the "definitive cessation" of the competition following crowd violence which marred the semi-final, first leg between PAOK and Olympiakos in Thessaloniki earlier this month.

The game between hosts PAOK and league champions Olympiakos, who were also the cup holders, at Toumba Stadium was abandoned in the 89th minute with the visitors leading 2-1 after PAOK fans invaded the pitch and dozens of flares and smoke bombs were thrown from the stands.

"For the first time in the history of professional football a Greek Cup was stopped before its completion with the sole reason being the risk of violence in the remaining four matches," the federation said.

The federation said that the decision by Kontonis "violates the binding rules of international sport which ensures the self rule and autonomy of national and international sports federations".

"The contested decision will result in the federation being disqualified and expelled from FIFA and UEFA and exclude Greek national and club teams from world and European football competition," the federation's appeal read.