Dimitris Giannakopoulos has issued a new, extensive, and particularly pointed statement regarding the current state of Greek basketball.
The powerful figure at Panathinaikos BC posed a series of questions to the president of the Greek Basketball Federation (ODKE), members of the Central Refereeing Committee (KED), and representatives of the refereeing community, while also referring to the statements in support of Vangelis Liolios, the discussions surrounding the 3×3 tournaments, and the information that, as he claimed, is circulating regarding his release from prison.
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At the same time, he addressed the government and the Deputy Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, concluding with a clear message: “Basketball will be cleaned up.”
Here is what he said in detail:
“There’s a game going on right now. Here we have issues that concern basketball as a whole, and they’re much more serious. I’ll begin.
Mr. Bousias, president of the ODKE and the referees’ association, how did the case file end up in the media?
Second, you went and testified in favor of Liolios. We both know this. In what capacity did you go? If you went as a private citizen, that’s fine. If you went as president of the ODKE and the referees, was there a decision authorizing that? Do you have any authorization to go and speak? Because if you spoke as president of the ODKE, there’s a problem. A big one. Without anyone having been authorized.
Next.
Fasoulas spoke out two or three days ago and said that everyone is telling the referees that Liolios will be out in ten days.
I want to ask the following. With everything that’s come out, with all the charges against him, and while he’s in pretrial detention, things are being said about the 3:3, about how much they cost and how they were organized, whether they were friends, and whether they could have been done more cheaply.
I’m asking this here. Also, I want to ask: The uniforms worn by the referees, the uniforms worn by various teams in the A1 league, such as Mykonos, Rhodes, and perhaps other teams—which company makes them? Are they from Mr. Giatra? I’m just asking; I don’t know.
Following that, the president of Prometheus, Mr. Milas, went to the Prometheus team’s hotel and told them: “Do your best to win. The president will be out in ten days.”
What information does he have that the president will be out in ten days? How did that come about? Are the messages he’s holding in his hands that serious? Are you going to get this man out?
I don’t think so. Or rather, we’ll see in this country.
I’ll continue.
This isn’t a question; it’s a statement of fact.
Another lawsuit filed by Olympiacos against Dimitris Giannakopoulos over a story I wrote during the finals, about Karpanos and Tsibouris. Of course, Olympiacos went to court again and filed an intervention on their behalf, just as they had done for Tsaroucha and Papapetrou—and we know where that ended up.
Should I assume, since Olympiacos filed an intervention, that they’ll meet the same fate as Tsaroucha and Papapetrou? Something tells me that’s exactly what will happen, given that they filed an intervention. So far, they’ve been 100 for 100. Whenever they’ve intervened, the individuals have either been remanded in custody or placed under electronic monitoring.
Moving on.
Mr. Tsolakos, president of the Attica Arbitrators’ Association, is there a pending lawsuit or legal action? I’m not all that familiar with these legal matters. If I’m using the wrong terminology, I apologize.
There’s a pending court case regarding a felony committed by Ms. Tsaroucha—for forging the documents that granted her the right to referee. Why did you appoint her? Have you shelved the case? And if so, why?
Also, did you do this arbitrarily, or do you have a decision from the Referees’ Association somewhere stating that we should shelve the case? Or did you do it on your own?
I’ll continue.
Why do you think our silence up to now is a sign of weakness?
Well, Mr. Koukoulekidis, Mr. Bitis, did you go to testify on behalf of Mr. Liolios? And if so, did you go as private citizens? Because, if you went as private citizens, that’s fine. Did you mention the word “KED”—that we are representatives of KED, one as president and the other as a member—in your testimony?
Because then you’re not speaking as private individuals. You’re speaking as people who hold those positions. And if you went in those capacities, well, perhaps you know better than I do. You probably don’t know it better than I do, but you know it better than most people.
Because when you were asked to resign, why didn’t you resign? Shouldn’t you have resigned, given that you hold such a position and are going to testify on behalf of Mr. Liolios, who is currently in pretrial detention? Shouldn’t you have resigned, at least until the verdict is handed down? Why didn’t you resign?
And let’s move on to the State.
Given the established fact and historical precedent that, when Mr. Avgenakis took a strong stand—using every legitimate and possible means—during the previous elections, to rid basketball of Vasilakopoulos’s turmoil and bring in the spotless Mr. Liolios, who loves basketball so much—we saw how that turned out. We know where he stands today, and we know why he’s being accused, and, and, and…
I am certain, then, and this is also due to the character of Mr. Vroutsis, who from the very beginning said, “I do not get involved in the self-governance of the Hellenic Basketball Federation” —and he was absolutely right—that there’s no way he slipped up or was pressured into taking a position.
You know that right now there are people who claim to be meeting with you and are going around everywhere proclaiming that “I have the support of the government” and that “I’ve been given the go-ahead—go ahead, we’re with you”? Isn’t that something that can be verified?
It’s certain that someone has done this. Now, whether he was drunk or something else, I don’t know. So, whatever comes out of his mouth, he says it. I hope, then, that they’ll shut him down.
Because, what have you accomplished in basketball, big guy? Not Fasoulas, obviously. What have you given to basketball? And if you think—if you think—that you’ll achieve anything by acting like a bully, you’re wrong.
Because you’ll have to come forward and say when this meeting with the minister took place. When did he tell you he’d support you all the way? When did he tell you, “Go ahead, and we’re here for you”? Because I don’t believe a word of it.
I may disagree with Mr. Vroutsis on other matters, but I in no way question his integrity. He has proven it. But, and I’ll say it again, the government itself won’t make the same mistake twice.
I’m certain it has realized its mistake with Avgenakis. And if it hasn’t realized it, sorry, but you’re idiots. The one you put in jail is the one who’s there.
As the detained president of the Greek Basketball Federation—the former president of the Greek Basketball Federation—said, basketball needs to clean up its act. And all of us who love the sport, invest in it, and demand equality on the court—rest assured that we will ensure it.
We didn’t endure the mudslinging, the infighting, and everything else that happened over the years—which, thankfully, was exposed thanks to honest people—just to go through it all again. You’re completely deluded if you believe such a thing.
Basketball will be cleaned up.
I was hoping to find allies among the people who have been calling for years for basketball to be cleaned up. But their efforts have been focused on going to various courts to defend the Tsarouchas and the Papapetrous. I’ve said again where they stand.
I don’t expect answers. I have them all. But don’t mistake our silence for weakness.”
*photo source: KYPE
