In a series of Instagram Stories, Dimitris Giannakopoulos weighed in on the latest developments in Greek basketball. The owner of Panathinaikos BC called for Vangelis Liolios to be barred from participating in basketball (who decided to step away from the sport until the case is resolved), for the referees involved to be punished with jail time, and made pointed remarks about Olympiacos.
“To be in despair as you watch the tsunami for two full days and nights… to stake everything on it, everywhere.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
To think you’ve struck gold, getting ready to celebrate, putting yourself out there, only to find out that in the end the gold was just glitter at best—and since you didn’t see the trap, it’ll… get you in the end. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.
Honestly, it saddens me… and I promise to come and testify in your favor on the grounds of low IQ.
P.S. Tomorrow will be an interesting Monday… lots of emotional ups and downs.
As a guest in such arenas, I’ll say “ace, halftime, double final”… just like ’99 and ’19.”
The administrative head of Panathinaikos BC returned shortly afterward with a new story. Here’s his second message in full:
“You’ve already lost, but you keep coming back and making a fool of yourself.
Accept your inability to compete with me…
Listen to me… I don’t want you to get hurt. God has already done that a long time ago.
I don’t hate you on a personal level… I can’t, because in all my daily challenges—playing along with you every time you dream of and try to destroy me—you give me some guaranteed laughs.
I’m simply looking out for the interests of my teams, demanding fair chances to win. And I see it through to the end.
Save whatever’s left of your dignity as fathers, businesspeople, and members of society.
Good night, and keep a clear head.”
“Fact 1: The owners of Olympiacos very recently reminded us which is the greatest team in Europe…
Fact 2: Jerseys and money were found in the possession of referees who are currently in prison for match-fixing.
Fact 3: In recent years, Olympiacos has spoken out in defense of the referees who are in prison, claiming that it is wrong for any team to complain (and is now proven right) about the unsuitability of these referees….
Fact 4: All of Greece watched the finals and either felt disgusted or expressed regret that their team was winning or losing arbitrarily due to the calls of the “imprisoned” referees they had defended.
Fact 5: Olympiacos, arbitrarily and without having the slightest clue about basketball, decides—FOR THE SAKE OF THE LEGENDARY IMAGE OF BASKETBALL—to humiliate itself by making the most extreme move to achieve it,THE BASKETBALL SECTOR to be discredited, yet taking the most extreme measure to achieve it, which the government at the time had the misfortune to endure from Olympiacos’ owners, forcing it to act so as not to be seen as irresponsible and exploitative toward an entire club simply because the owners, for whatever reasons, had RELEGATED IT TO THE A2 LEAGUE.
Fact 6: I have to admit that not all of us have spent as much money on complaints and court cases to clean up basketball as they have, combined.
Fact 7: In all the titles they’ve won in recent years, one of these referees has officiated THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of the games.
Fact 8: TO DATE, BEYOND MENTIONING ME AND ANY STATEMENTS I’VE MADE ABOUT BASKETBALL…GIVEN ALL OF THE ABOVE, DOESN’T EUROPE’S GREATEST TEAM HAVE AN OPINION???
HOW CAN IT IGNORE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO DRAIN BASKETBALL TO DATE, NOW THAT IT HAS THE DATA TO BACK IT UP AND NOT JUST THE OPINIONS OF PASSIONATE STAKEHOLDERS?
These questions are for you, and they’ll keep coming back no matter how much you change your agenda.
The legendary guys and the “good guys” shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
The next statement:
“A personal opinion—not about following the rules, but thinking about what’s best for basketball.
Liolios out: Liolios out because he’s blinded by arrogance and selfishness… Money is not the motive…. Ban from the sport. Full disclosure of everything he knows (he knows it all as the ringleader). This will buy time for a new era in basketball)… Otherwise, imprisonment and confiscation of all assets.
Referees: A short prison sentence provided they give a full statement regarding the source of their bribes…. Otherwise, life imprisonment. Exemplary criminal punishment for those who accepted bribes, both legally and at the club (amateur) level. Life imprisonment for any referee who fails to report either a colleague or an official who attempts to bribe them.
Provision for teams to report, with evidence, when a match-fixing scheme is about to take place, and to be rewarded in some way.
This will put a stop to all of it.
And finally, the government should allocate substantial funding to the new EOK and KED so that a competent team of new referees can be established immediately.”
*photo source: KYPE
