02.06.2025 14:50
The third match of the Greek League Final series, which is set to be played on Wednesday evening between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, has been postponed 'by government decision.' If conditions do not normalize, there is also a possibility that the final series may be canceled.
The spokesperson of the Greek government, Pavlos Marinakis, announced that the third match to be played at OAKA has been postponed by a government decision following the events that occurred during the match played at Olympiakos' home on Sunday night.
Government spokesperson Marinakis stated that he would hold a meeting with Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos and Olympiakos owners Giorgos and Panagiotis Angelopoulos. It was noted that if there is no calmness and handshake during the meeting, the final series will not be played, and the season will be interrupted, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Vroutsis.
In his statement, Marinakis continued, "We made a series of attempts to put an end to violence in professional sports 15 months ago. We have adhered strictly to the implementation of measures from the very beginning. We have demonstrated our will with the enforcement of penalties. The images from yesterday are not worthy of Greek sports. Everyone responsible will be held accountable and punished."
WHAT HAPPENED FROM A STEP BACK?
Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman reacted strongly to the insulting chants directed at Turkey by the opposing team's fans during the match in which they lost to Olympiakos 91-83 away.
Ataman made statements to the press after the second match of the Greek League playoff final series.
Criticizing the events that occurred before and during the match, Ergin Ataman said, "This is not sports. This is a circus. No one can insult my country here. No one can say 'F..k you' to my country. They can say it to me, they can say it to Panathinaikos, but no one can say it to Turkey. I received the second technical foul for this reason. The second technical foul was given to me for this reason."
Stating that Olympiakos played very aggressively, Ataman said, "They took 33 free throws. We took 17 free throws. We will play basketball in the third match on Wednesday. OAKA is not a circus arena. Everyone respects each other. We will play aggressively and we will win. That's all."
Due to the events that occurred before the match, Panathinaikos President Dimitris Giannakopoulos and his family had to be removed from the hall.
Panagiotis Angelopoulos: "Ergin Ataman should be arrested"
In the second match of the Greek League final series, Olympiakos defeated Panathinaikos at home on Sunday evening, bringing the series to 1-1. However, the events off the court completely overshadowed the events on the court.
Panathinaikos president Dimitris Giannakopoulos was removed from the hall in a tumultuous manner due to the tension that occurred before the match. After the match, Ergin Ataman expressed his anger towards the Olympiakos fans and stated that "insults were directed at Turkey" from the stands. In response, Ataman used the term 'P*' for the Olympiakos fans.
The owners of Olympiakos' basketball branch, the Angelopoulos brothers, spoke to Greek State Television ERT after the match about the events that took place. Panagiotis Angelopoulos, one of the brothers, referred to Ergin Ataman's post-match statements.
Angelopoulos said that Ergin Ataman should be 'arrested':
"Ataman called the Olympiakos fans 'p*ç'. No one can call the Olympiakos fans 'p*ç'. Ataman needs to be arrested; he works in a foreign country. As a club, they are inciting violence; I don't know how this final series will end. What both Ataman and Giannakopoulos did is unacceptable."
Angelopoulos stated, "Let's say exactly what was done to Dimitris Giannakopoulos (Panathinaikos President). Some are petting him, some are protecting him, tolerating him, and even changing the laws for him. So, let's say what has been done for everyone to take responsibility. Pontius Pilate-like tactics can no longer be tolerated by either us or Olympiacos. Giannakopoulos said he would catch my daughter, do something to her, and I would see it too; Nikos Lepeniotis and five others are witnesses. This is exactly who Dimitris Giannakopoulos is! This incident happened on the basketball court. This man is a disgusting person! He should come out and say such things like a man. No one can play with me or Olympiakos. The prosecutor ordered Giannakopoulos' arrest. When he learned this, he fled the hall. All of this was recorded by security cameras."
Dimitris Giannakopoulos: "Olympiakos has become a state"
In the second match of the Greek League final series, Olympiakos defeated Panathinaikos at home on Sunday evening, bringing the series to 1-1. However, the events off the court completely overshadowed the events on the court.
Panathinaikos president Dimitris Giannakopoulos, who came to the Olympiakos hall wearing a provocative t-shirt, was removed from the hall in a tumultuous manner due to the tension that occurred before the match. Giannakopoulos, who stated that he was insulted from the stands regarding his daughter and 12-year-old son, lost control on the sidelines as a result.
Olympiakos General Manager Nikos Lepeniotis claimed that Giannakopoulos came to him during the events and said, "Go and tell the Angelopoulos brothers (the owners of Olympiakos) and Georgios (Bartzokas) that I will rape your daughter in front of him."
After the events, Panathinaikos president Dimitris Giannakopoulos released a statement via social media.
Giannakopoulos, who stated that the entire hall insulted his children, also reacted to the Greek state:
"I have been in basketball for years, and I have never witnessed such a disgrace before. The entire hall insulted my family and my children, the most sacred beings in this life, in unison. Instead of condemning what happened, those in charge of Olympiakos sued me for my reaction. What they did was a very b*llshit move. Because of this, the authorities removed me from the hall. Olympiakos has become a state in this country. We will see if the state will get involved after all this."