EuroLeague hands Dimitris Giannakopoulos hefty fine and three-game ban / News - Basketnews.com

Dimitris Giannakopoulos was fined 80,000€ and received a three-game ban from Panathinaikos' EuroLeague games due to some Instagram posts that questioned referees' decisions.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Dimitris Giannakopoulos has been sanctioned with a fine of 80,000€ and a prohibition from accessing the Euroleague Basketball arenas for the next three games of Panathinaikos Athens, the EuroLeague has announced.

Panathinaikos Athens / Schedule

Zalgiris Kaunas Panathinaikos Athens67-81 Panathinaikos Athens EA7 Emporio Armani MilanThu19:00

The sanctions have been imposed for Panathinaikos' owners' "offensive statements under Article 24.1.g) of the Disciplinary Code."

"The decision may be appealed before the Appeals Panel within 10 calendar days," the decision reads.

The Greens will be facing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan at OAKA next Thursday. Then, they'll be traveling to Valencia (Dec. 13) and Barcelona (Dec. 16) for the EuroLeague double week.

It should be noted that this is the first pair of sanctions imposed on PAO's belligerent owner under the new EuroLeague management. Giannakopoulos' last presence at the OAKA stands dates back to Panathinaikos-Larissa Greek playoff game last June.

EuroLeague began a disciplinary review because of the events in the Panathinaikos Athens game against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. After the match, Giannakopoulos took to Instagram to attack the EuroLeague and the referees.

"Surely one of the worst massacres you've done to us," the businessman posted in a story first.

Giannakopoulos reposted an episode of Mathias Lessort supposedly fouling Marius Grigonis, then a bunch of clips where Partizan players are said to commit unnoticed traveling violations.

"This is a robbery of our time, energy, and money," he wrote later. "You have been stealing our time, energy, and money for the last 20 years, but when we asked to leave your rigged competition, you didn't allow us. Why?"

Dimitris Giannakopoulos' Instagram stories:

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