By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The head coach of Panathinaikos Aktor, Ergin Ataman, reacted to the officiating of the Greek derby via posts on social media, following a losing effort for his team against Olympiacos in the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Sunday.
His side built a 12-point lead but did not hold on in the first edition of the Derby of the Eternal Enemies for the 2025-26 season.
The 59-year-old Turkish play-caller was unhappy with the decisions of the referees, Ilias Karpanos, Giannis Tsimpouris, and Ioannis Mpakalis.
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A few hours after the conclusion of the game in SEF, without previously commenting on referee decisions in postgame interviews, he reacted on his Instagram account.
Ataman shared his opinion on how a foul on Kostas Sloukas was reversed in favor of Olympiacos.
“The tragicomic part of the video is that the foul was called to Sloukas and the opponent came to the line for two free throws. And yes, it’s not a joke,” he wrote.
The head coach of the Greens continued with his view on Sasha Vezenkov pushing T.J. Shorts II.
“We also witnessed the invention of a new sport: Greco-Roman wrestling on a basketball court. A first in world history,” he noted.
After falling to 1-1 in the Stoiximan GBL Regular Season, Panathnaikos hopes to improve a current 2-1 EuroLeague record in a two-game week. From Round 4 with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Telekom Center Athens on Wednesday to a Round 5 reunion with his former team, Anadolu Efes, in Istanbul’s Turkcell Basketball Development Center on Friday.