By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos became the first team in Euroleague history which was punished by playing games without spectators. As the competition and the independent disciplinary judge have announced: “Citing instances of repeated and egregious infractions of the competition by-laws, the disciplinary judge has ordered that the next three Panathinaikos home games in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague be played without spectators. He has also fined the club €40,000 for the use by fans of illegal sirens, flares and firecrackers…In addition to the judge’s sanctions, Euroleague Basketball has fined Panathinaikos €60,000 and ordered its court closed to spectators for one additional Euroleague home game as penalty for allowing over-attendance at both of its playoff games at OAKA. Panathinaikos was fined €30,000 after Game 3 of its playoff series due to over-attendance. When the violation recurred in Game 4, the club was fined again the same amount and a one-game closed-door penalty applied”.
There is a history of almost open war between Panathinaikos and Euroleague, with the Greens being warned even with banishment from the competition, while in this press release the judge is quoted saying: “All the guest teams must assume that, whenever they come to Athens, they are very likely to face unsportsmanlike conduct from some home spectators as well as disturbance of all sorts and nature”.
Panathinaikos is expected to appeal the decision, as the club has the right to do so in the next 10 days, however this probably will not be the only reaction.