Latest news with #EuroLeagueFinalFour
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Greek basketball finals suspended after rivalry again turns ugly
ATHENS, Greece — Greece's government on Monday suspended the basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. Olympiacos won Sunday's game 91-83, leveling the best-of-five series at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country's sports minister. ' will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year's championship will be definitively canceled,' government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. 'There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency,' he added. The two clubs based in the Athens area have a long and often violent history of rivalry spanning basketball, soccer and other sports. The latest unrest comes despite recent government efforts to curb sports-related violence, including surveillance systems at stadiums and mandatory ticketing linked to state ID cards. Both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos competed in the EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi last month, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Fenerbahce defeated Monaco in the championship game. Sunday's game at Peace and Friendship Stadium was marred by multiple incidents. Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos was escorted out at halftime following a heated exchange with referees. Head coach Ergin Ataman was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving a second technical foul. Television footage of the game showed security guards from the two teams coming to blows as Giannakopoulos walked out in a heated atmosphere. In a statement, Panathinaikos called the officiating 'disgraceful' and biased against them. Olympiacos co-chairman Giorgos Angelopoulos fired back, accusing Giannakopoulos of abusive behavior. 'The guy is toxic — he is the definition of violence,' Angelopoulos said. 'He cannot continue to be present in Greek sports and act this way.' 'No apology will be accepted,' he added. 'Let Panathinaikos fans celebrate him as a tough guy. We don't want people like that.' Panathinaikos had won Game 1 of the series 80-68 on Friday at the OAKA Arena in northern Athens.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greek basketball finals suspended after rivalry again turns ugly
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's government on Monday suspended the basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. Olympiacos won Sunday's game 91-83, leveling the best-of-five series at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed. Advertisement The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country's sports minister. '(They) will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year's championship will be definitively canceled,' government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. 'There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency,' he added. The two clubs based in the Athens area have a long and often violent history of rivalry spanning basketball, soccer and other sports. The latest unrest comes despite recent government efforts to curb sports-related violence, including surveillance systems at stadiums and mandatory ticketing linked to state ID cards. Advertisement Both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos competed in the EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi last month, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Fenerbahce defeated Monaco in the championship game. Sunday's game at Peace and Friendship Stadium was marred by multiple incidents. Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos was escorted out at halftime following a heated exchange with referees. Head coach Ergin Ataman was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving a second technical foul. Television footage of the game showed security guards from the two teams coming to blows as Giannakopoulos walked out in a heated atmosphere. In a statement, Panathinaikos called the officiating 'disgraceful' and biased against them. Olympiacos co-chairman Giorgos Angelopoulos fired back, accusing Giannakopoulos of abusive behavior. Advertisement 'The guy is toxic — he is the definition of violence,' Angelopoulos said. 'He cannot continue to be present in Greek sports and act this way.' 'No apology will be accepted,' he added. 'Let Panathinaikos fans celebrate him as a tough guy. We don't want people like that.' Panathinaikos had won Game 1 of the series 80-68 on Friday at the OAKA Arena in northern Athens.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Greece postpones basketball finals game after courtside dispute
FILE PHOTO: Basketball - EuroLeague Final Four - Third Place - Olympiacos v Panathinaikos - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - May 25, 2025 Panathinaikos' Jerian Grant waves to fans after the match REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Basketball - EuroLeague Final Four - Third Place - Olympiacos v Panathinaikos - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - May 25, 2025 Olympiacos players after the match REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Basketball - EuroLeague Final Four - Third Place - Olympiacos v Panathinaikos - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - May 25, 2025 Olympiacos' Moses Wright in action with Panathinaikos' Omer Yurtseven and Mathias Lessort REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo ATHENS - Greece's government on Monday postponed a basketball game between local rivals Olympiacos and Panathinaikos and threatened to cancel the national championship after tensions between team owners boiled over at a match on Sunday. Olympiacos basketball owners Panagiotis and George Aggelopoulos, and Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos clashed over the alleged use of obscene gestures and offensive chants by spectators. The sides were scheduled to play the third of five potential end-of-season games on Wednesday, but that game has been put on hold after Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said the owners would appear in front of the deputy sports minister and promise that this behaviour will not be repeated. "Otherwise, this year's championship will be permanently suspended," Marinakis added. Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, two of Greece's biggest basketball clubs, recently played each other for third place in the EuroLeague finals in Abu Dhabi. Violence has plagued sport in Greece in recent years. Two young soccer fans were killed in 2023 and 2022, and a Greek court found a 20-year old man guilty of manslaughter over the 2023 death of a policeman hit by a flare during clashes with spectators at a volleyball game. Authorities have promised to crack down to tackle the issue. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Greece postpones basketball finals game after courtside dispute
FILE PHOTO: Basketball - EuroLeague Final Four - Third Place - Olympiacos v Panathinaikos - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - May 25, 2025 Olympiacos' Moses Wright in action with Panathinaikos' Omer Yurtseven and Mathias Lessort REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece's government on Monday postponed a basketball game between local rivals Olympiacos and Panathinaikos and threatened to cancel the national championship after tensions between team owners boiled over at a match on Sunday. Olympiacos basketball owners Panagiotis and George Aggelopoulos, and Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos clashed over the alleged use of obscene gestures and offensive chants by spectators. The sides were scheduled to play the third of five potential end-of-season games on Wednesday, but that game has been put on hold after Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakissaid the owners would appear in front of the deputy sports minister and promise that this behaviour will not be repeated. "Otherwise, this year's championship will be permanently suspended," Marinakis added. Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, two of Greece's biggest basketball clubs, recently played each other for third place in the EuroLeague finals in Abu Dhabi. Violence has plagued sport in Greece in recent years. Two young soccer fans were killed in 2023 and 2022, and a Greek court found a 20-year old man guilty of manslaughter over the 2023 death of a policeman hit by a flare during clashes with spectators at a volleyball game. Authorities have promised to crack down to tackle the issue. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas, editing by Ed Osmond)
Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
EuroLeague springboard for basketball in Abu Dhabi: IMG official
22 May 2025 23:54 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The EuroLeague Final Four, the second-biggest event after the NBA in the sport, is being hosted outside the continent for the first time as the three-day event kicks off on Friday at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island. The landmark move underscores Abu Dhabi's ambition to be a basketball hub domestically and internationally, according to the stakeholders Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, EuroLeague and the sports agency International Management Group (IMG). The shift also marks a pivotal moment in the league's to Matt Dwyer, Senior Vice President at IMG, the decision to bring the Final Four to Abu Dhabi is part of a larger strategy to expand the league's footprint into emerging international markets. 'This is a real opportunity for us as a company to deepen our partnerships in the region and work more closely with Abu Dhabi itself,' he said. Since IMG entered into a joint venture with the EuroLeague nine years ago, revenues have increased five-fold, and the brand has become a commercial success across Europe, according to Abu Dhabi Final Four is seen as a springboard to further expand the league's presence beyond its traditional markets. 'The league is a fantastic product with an incredibly passionate fan base,' Dwyer noted. 'Bringing it to Abu Dhabi not only introduces the game to a new audience, but it also gives us the chance to win over new fans and elevate the sport in a city that is increasingly becoming a global sports hub.'The benefits of this move, Dwyer explained, are mutual. For EuroLeague, the expansion into the Middle East opens doors to financial growth and broader market engagement. For Abu Dhabi, it's another jewel in its gleaming crown of elite sporting events. And it is an addition to an array of big events managed by the IMG, such as the Arabian Gulf Cup, the Saudi Pro League and UFC in the Middle East.'The event sold out in record time [seven hours], which is a testament to the appetite for basketball in the region,' Dwyer said. 'There's going to be a large amount of tourists coming over to Abu Dhabi, and that's going to have a significant economic impact on the city. At the same time, it will help cement Abu Dhabi's reputation as a number one destination for sports and entertainment.'Maintaining the EuroLeague Final Four's signature atmosphere while breaking tradition to seek out a more international fan base is a delicate balance that IMG is trying to achieve. Despite the geographic shift, Dwyer is confident that the energy and intensity fans expect will be fully preserved.'With the sheer amount of fans travelling into Abu Dhabi and the passionate support behind the participating clubs, I think people inside the arena will feel like they could be anywhere in Europe,' he said. 'What makes this special, though, is the chance to blend that intense European basketball atmosphere with the unique cultural setting of Abu Dhabi.'To bring out the essence of the new setting, the EuroLeague has roped in 20 content creators or influencers, including two Emiratis who are bridging the trans-cultural gap. Throughout the week, fan engagement events are planned across the city, aiming to create a culturally rich and immersive experience for both travelling supporters and local fans. Dwyer emphasised that this unique blend of traditions will define the 2024 Final Four as one of the most memorable in the league's beyond the tournament itself, IMG and EuroLeague hope the event will serve as a catalyst for basketball development across the region. 'Basketball is already a popular sport in Abu Dhabi, but hosting a marquee event like this can help take it to another level,' Dwyer said. 'We want to inspire future generations – whether as players, fans, or even volunteers – and help embed basketball more deeply into the cultural and sporting fabric of the city.'
