The President of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), Makis Gagatsis, spoke before the start of the Executive Committee meeting about Yiannis Konstantelias’ decision regarding the National Team’s upcoming commitments.

Here is what he said in detail:

“Over the past few hours, I’ve read and heard a lot about Yiannis Konstantelias’ decision. Some comments and statements, whether by name or anonymously, crossed the line of mere commentary and amounted to targeting a 23-year-old young man.

I am particularly troubled by the fact that people who have never been involved with the national team, who do not know Yiannis, his environment, or the circumstances under which he made this decision, were quick to draw conclusions and attribute motives.

Instead of respecting a personal choice that relates exclusively to his family, some have chosen to base the discussion on assumptions, scenarios, and speculations that have no connection to reality.

What a person believes or does not believe, his personal choices, and his family life are not subjects for soccer analysis. Nor should they be used to further certain narratives and impressions.

Sometimes I wonder if, in the end, aside from foreign referees, we also need foreign journalists to help us learn to approach such issues with more composure and less of a desire to sensationalize, since some—fortunately only a few— have targeted Yiannis.

The Hellenic Football Federation, the national team coach, the technical directors, and his teammates all stand by Yiannis with absolute respect for his decision.

I want to be clear. The doors to the national team were, are, and will remain open to him.

Yiannis was, is, and will be a player for the Greek national team, and I am certain that we will see him back with us soon.

Until then, the least we can all do is respect his decision.”

*photo source: KYPE