Out of the Final Four!

He unfortunate behavior of the eccentric owner of Panathinaikos, Dimitris Giannakopoulosduring the second playoff game between his team and the Valencia Basket It has cost him dearly when he was sanctioned by the Single Judge of the Competition Committee (an independent body of the Euroleague that judges and makes these decisions) with a financial fine of 10,000 euros and a three-game ban on entry to the pavilions in matches of their competition.

The reason for the 3-game suspension is based on the Euroleague regulations, which typify what Giannakopoulos did as a minor infraction, whose maximum penalty is 30,000. The Single Judge believes that with his attitude he contributed to a situation likely to generate tension and potential violence, and also assessed Dimitris’ recidivismsanctioned with five games in the last Final Four in Abu Dhabi for similar acts. .

The Single Judge points out the incorrect behavior of the Greek team’s top leader: “Mr. Giannakopoulos entered an area designated exclusively for the scorer’s table during the gamethus violating the restricted access rules that govern the playing area

Proposal for a regulatory change so that it is repeated

The Euroleague will propose to its shareholders a review of the relevant provisions of the Disciplinary Code that regulate this type of behavior, in order to reinforce sanctions for the 2026-27 seasonincluding clear and specific serious actions that may be sanctioned with the lifelong expulsion of the players. The objective is to eradicate behaviors that harm the image of the League and their participating teams.

Money is no problem for this one multimillionairewhose fortune comes from the Greek pharmaceutical industrywhich his father and uncle dominated almost in their entirety for decades, an empire that he has inherited.

Outside OAKA, their own court, in the Final Four

But the prohibition of not accessing sports venues in Euroleague matches Yes, it is going to keep you awake, because it implies that, Whether Panathinaikos qualifies or not to compete in it, he will not be able to be in the Final Four, of which his club acts as host with the majestic OAKA pavilion as the stage for the semi-finals and final.

And for such a guy arrogant and proudaccustomed to always doing whatever he wants, not even being able to enter ‘his’ pavilion may be unacceptable. Will he try to bypass the ban? Bet yes. Problem in sight.

Panathinaikos statement

He Panathinaikosfearing the worst, issued a statement before the sanction in which he criticized Valencia’s performance, its security personnel and the atmosphere at the Roig Arena. It hasn’t helped him at all.