By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the loss in this year’s Greek Supercup to eternal rivals of Olympiacos, Panathinaikos is preparing for domestic league and EuroLeague duties.
However, as the official season already approached us, the reigning EuroLeague champions released a statement asking the Greek referees to turn professional and leave the Greek Basketball Federation, joining the Greek League.
The press release opened with the green club saying that “basketball in Greece is flourishing and the level of competitiveness in the Greek league is constantly rising. Therefore that’s “why it is imperative to have such similar referees”.
“However, the level of Greek refereeing does not seem high enough to follow that of the investments made in Greek basketball as a whole. This is proven by the admittedly mediocre performance of referees in a number of games, but also by the absence of new faces in this area”, Panathinaikos added.
Then, the club proposed the referees to join the Greek Basketball League. “We believe that the moment has finally come in a professional and competitive Championship, for refereeing to become professional as well, passing to the responsibility of the Cooperative of the GBL teams”, the statement said. “This is the only way for absolute transparency, stability, and development”, Panathinaikos added.
The proposal came officially later on. “Due to all of the above and to create an even more competitive and investment-friendly environment, KAE Panathinaikos AKTOR proposes the affiliation of the Central Arbitration Committee to ESAKE, as the most competent body to provide a solution to this troubled issue”, the Greek club added.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eurokinissi