Panathinaikos head coach, Ergin Ataman, found himself on the receiving end of a 10,000 euro fine from the Greek Basket League.
Ergin Ataman‘s remarks, delivered after the Panathinaikos’ loss, sparked controversy as he questioned the officiating decisions.
“I now understand why, in football, there are non-Greek referees in the main game. I now understand it very well. Please go talk with Mr. Giannakopoulos and call foreign referees to make it right. If not, everything is fixed now. Everything is fixed,” he expressed passionately in the hallway of the OAKA Arena.
Full press release from the Greek Basket League:
It is required:
- To the PANATHINAIKOS ATHLETIKOS OMILOS KALATHOSFAIRIKI ANONIME ETAIREIA (d.t. KAE PANATHINAIKOS): a) the penalty of a reprimand as well as a fine of one thousand four hundred (1,400.00) euros for each of the 2 warnings that took place, excluding the first of them, for abusive slogans which were addressed to natural persons and b) a severe written reprimand and a fine of fifteen thousand (15,000) euros for actions and statements of her coach which constitute defamation of the sport, misdemeanors referred to in the no. prot. 120/6-6-2024 call and concerns the championship match with the team of OLYMPIC PHILATHLON ASSOCIATION OF PIRAEUS BASKETBALL SOCIETY (d.t. OLYMPIAKOS KAE), which was held on 5-6-2024.
- Imposes on ERGIN ATAMAN, coach of PANATHINAIKOS ATHLETIKOS OMILOS KALATHOSPHEIRIKIS ANONIMES ETEIREIAS (d.t. KAE PANATHINAIKOS) a severe written reprimand and a monetary fine of ten thousand (10,000) euros for actions and statements that constitute defamation of the sport during the aforementioned match and
DIMITRIOS KONTOS is released for the disciplinary charge of defamation of the sport of basketball of article 74 of the Special Disciplinary Regulations of the 2023-2024 A1 Basketball Championship National Category disciplinary charge during the above match.
The PANATHINAIKOS ATHLETIC GROUP BASKETBALL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (d.t. KAE PANATHINAIKOS) is released for the same disciplinary category as above (D. Kontou) during the above match.