By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After losing to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague playoff series-opening game, Panathinaikos AKTOR head coach Ergin Ataman criticized some referees’ decisions, and the club protested with huge political implications.
EuroLeague responded with an official statement, announcing that disciplinary measures had been initiated.
“Euroleague Basketball wishes to express its disappointment about the public statements made by Mr. Ergin Ataman, the Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach, and by the club itself, as well as about other events that happened following Game 1 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs that the club hosted in Athens on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
Such actions and statements are in full contradiction with the joint statement made on April 15, 2024, by Euroleague Basketball, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the EuroLeague Players Association, and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials, as they create the unnecessary and unjustified conflict that the four organizations, representing its member clubs, coaches, players and officials, all committed to prevent.
The statements made by Coach Ataman are purposefully misleading and incorrect – giving inaccurate analysis of the game and of a carefully selected number of plays; attempting to question the work and the integrity of the officials; and putting additional pressure on them and on the league organization – attempts that obviously will not reach their objectives.
Unfortunately, these statements were not presented to Euroleague Basketball officials through the existing official channels, which are always open to Coach Ataman, his club, and every other club and coach in the competition.
Such behavior will not be tolerated by Euroleague Basketball. Disciplinary procedures have already been initiated, as they have for the events occurred in the obligatory open-to-media practice of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, when Mr. Ataman prevented journalists from performing their duties.
Euroleague Basketball’s respect towards the Panathinaikos organization, community and legacy is beyond question, and equal to the respect given to all other clubs in the competition. The events that occurred after Game 1 of the EuroLeague Playoffs are contrary to the principles of respect among the clubs, towards the organization that they all manage, and the values that the competition aims to promote.
Euroleague Basketball encourages Coach Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, and all other clubs and individuals to avoid similar statements and behavior in future games, and to promote the values that the EuroLeague competition represents, generating a positive atmosphere around the games and celebrating the incredible effort and action on the court,” per EuroLeague’s official press release.