By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the suspension of previous bans from attending games, the Greek Sports Judge announced a new ban for the owner of Panathinaikos Aktor, Dimitris Giannakopoulos.
Giannakopoulos, 51, has been barred from accessing venues and watching games for one month, and also fined 20,000 euros for actions and statements via social media posts on his Instagram account about the meeting with Olympiacos in OAKA Altion on January 20, constituting defamation of the sport. The latest clash of the eternal enemies in the 2024-25 campaign was part of Round 15 of Greece’s Stoiximan GBL Regular Season.
The penalties announced on Friday extend to a fine of 30,000 euros issued to Panathinaikos for the aforementioned actions and statements of the team owner.
There is a right of appeal on the decisions, similar to the previous cases. Such appeals evaluated by other Greek courts led to the suspension of bans combined for 12 months, stemming from various infractions and three separate sanctions.
The suspended penalties are also connected to defamation of the sport. Specifically, an eight-month ban for actions linked to Game 5 of the GBL championship series opposite Olympiacos on June 24, 2024, alongside a separate three-month ban and another three-month ban reduced to one month upon appeal.
Meanwhile, the team coached by Ergin Ataman is tied for fourth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings, behind a 16-10 record. In domestic competitions, a 17-0 run tops the GBL table, shortly before the focus switches on the OPAP Final 8.