By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Game 4 of Greek finals ended in images of chaos, as Olympiacos fans clashed with the police outside the gym, while the game was interrupted three times, there was heavy use of firecrackers and also one fire extinguisher was thrown in the athletes entrance.
However there was even bigger tension afterwards. “Our presidents don’t throw bills to the referees and are not threatening them”, said Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas in the press conference and then the owners themselves spoke to the press.
Giorgos Aggelopoulos said: “I want to congratulate mr. Vasilakopoulos (ed.note: president of Greek basketball federation), mr. Zavlanos and mr. Koromilas (ed.note: former referees and members of the central refereeing board) for today. What happens in Greece with the referees is disgusting, we can’t take it no more. We are disgusted and our team is also disgusted. I believe that those persons are sick, they have crossed every line. Vasilakopoulos, Koromilas and Zavlanos have destroyed Greek basketball and I don’t think they want a change”.
Panagiotis Aggelopoulos added: “Since 2009 we are among the top teams in Europe, we have won two Euroleague titles and here we have to beat referees named Karakatsounis and Panagiotou, the same who played us in Game 1 of the finals last season. They had their orders in order to help to “big team” named Panathinaikos to win. That’s what happens in Greece. We will fight in Game 5 against the swamp of the federation, the referees, Vasilakopoulos and Zavlanos. They are the same thing”.
The outbreak of Aggelopoulos brothers has touched even the Greek national team: “Those people are sick. Vasilakopoulos has an issue, he is a “sick fan” of Panathinaikos. He has issues. Many issues. He wants to change the president of the league, he interferes in the national team when the subject is Olympiacos‘ players. He thinks he owns basketball. However, he doesn’t own basketball or the national team. Still he has issues. Olympiacos has ten players who are national team members, has two Euroleague titles, the best team, but gets no respect. The national team is a separate issue. We will act according to the law. The fact that no Olympiacos player will be part of the team doesn’t have to do with what happened in the finals. However, it’s decided that we will not send our players in the national team and that’s the end of it”.
UPDATE: For those comment Aggelopoulos brothers were punished with a three months ban from any gym and a total 33.ooo euros fine was imposed also for quotes of coach Giorgos Bartzokas. Also Olympiacos will play the first game of next season without fans and has to pay an other 12.200 euros fine for the behavior of their fans. Also the committee of sporting spirit announced on the 31st of July a suspended sentence for those statements towards the owners and the coach of the team.