By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos BC will ask EuroLeague and CEO Jordi Bertomeu to expel Panathinaikos BC and ban club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos from the competition.
In an official statement that came as a reaction to Giannakopoulos’ allegations regarding a “bribe attempt” that was supposed to be made by Olympiacos to two of the referees of the EuroLeague game between the two Greek teams, the “Reds” mention that they will request the immediate reapplication of the punishments that had been imposed – and then became temporarily suspended – to the owner of Panathinaikos plus the ejection of the club from EuroLeague.
The statement of Olympiacos is as follows:
“Last night’s official statement by D.Giannakopoulos and Panathinaikos BC about an alleged effort from our team to bribe the Euroleague referees Mr. Paternico and Zamojski exceeds all levels of slander and falsehoods.
On our turn, we state that we will immediately take all and any legal action to fully reinstate the truth and the very clear public image of Olympiacos BC, submitting our claims to the Greek tactical courts and prosecutorial authorities.
Beyond that, through a letter that is going to be sent to Mr. Bertomeu and the filling of suit with the Sporting Judge of the Euroleague, we will ask for the immediate reinstatement of the penalties imposed to the recidivist D. Giannakoopoulos and the expulsion of both himself and Panathinaikos BC from the competition, in accordance to the specific regulations of the Statutes and the Disciplinary Code of the Euroleague.
The exemplary disciplinary and penal punishment of the vulgar sycophant D. Giannakopoulos and that of Panathinaikos Bc is now a one-way street.”
The notes of the Crew Chief’s report of the EuroLeague Round 6 game between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos included accusations that Giannakopoulos told the two aforementioned referees of the match (Paternico and Zamojski) that they were “betting 20.000.” In response, the side of Panathinaikos mentioned that what Giannakopoulos said was that Olympiacos made bribe attempts of €20.000 apiece to Zamojski and Paternico and that his words were misinterpreted.
EuroLeague is expected to open disciplinary proceedings against Giannakopoulos for the accusations written on the Crew Chief’s report.