Basketball finals in Greece postponed after physical altercations
Greek Basketball League Finals on the Line: Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos are in a bit of a pickle, mate. Last Monday, the government had to step in and suspend the series due to some on-court rowdy behavior between rival security teams. The series is tied at 1-1, and the third game, initially scheduled for today, has been postponed.
So, what's the lowdown? The owners of both clubs received a reminder from the country's sports minister. They were told they'd need to guarantee this wild ride will come to an end. If they can't, this year's championship is as good as over.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis had no qualms in stating, "This is intolerable. We can't have such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency disturbing our sports scene."
Now, the club owners seem a tad uncooperative, considering they've ruled out attending a joint meeting with the minister. So, who knows what the future holds at this point, eh?
These Athens-based teams have a long-standing rivalry, one that spans basketball, soccer, and other sports. They even went head-to-head in the EuroLeague Final Four last month, with Olympiakos finishing third and Panathinaikos ending up fourth. Fenerbahce took the championship, leaving the Greek duo to lick their wounds.
Sunday's game at Peace and Friendship Stadium was a doozy, mate. Olympiakos took the win, but it was marred by multiple incidents. Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos was booted out at halftime following a heated exchange with refs, and coach Ergin Ataman was given the boot in the fourth quarter for receiving a second technical foul.
Things got even uglier when security guards from both teams decided to square off as Giannakopoulos made his exit, all in front of a heated audience.
Panathinaikos deemed the officiating "disgraceful" and biased, while Olympiakos cochairman Giorgos Angelopoulos accused Giannakopoulos of abusive behavior. Angelopoulos wasn't holding back when he labeled Giannakopoulos as "toxic - the definition of violence."
"No apology will be accepted," Angelopoulos stated firmly. "Let Panathinaikos fans celebrate him as a tough guy. We don't want people like that."
With a bit of bargaining and agreement on some terms, it seems like the series will resume. The schedule's been sorted: the third game is set for June 6 at OAKA, the fourth on June 8 at SEF, and if necessary, the fifth back at OAKA. Measures have also been put in place to stop another brawl, with the owners being barred from attending games at opposing teams' arenas.
Overall, despite their rocky history and the bitter exchanges, both Panathinaikos and Olympiakos have confirmed their commitment to seeing the finals through under the agreed terms. Let's hope things stay civil from here on out!
The prolonged NBA-like rivalry between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos in the Greek basketball league, marked by last Monday's suspension, requires resolution soon. The club owners must abide by the sports minister's decree to ensure a peaceful conclusion to the championship, otherwise, the title could be at stake.
