Panathinaikos issue statement with political accusations after loss vs. Maccabi / News - Basketnews.com

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens management released an announcement criticizing the referees' performance in Game 1 of the Playoffs vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens had a press release after yesterday's loss to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 1 of the Playoffs.

Points this season

48%81,7Points made:81,7Accuracy:48,3%Place in standings:9Record max:99Record min:65Best scorer:Kendrick NunnTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

In the press release, the Greek club attacked the referees, which echoed the statements of team coach Ergin Ataman last year.

It also included references to the previous tenure of Jordi Bertomeu, the former CEO and President of EuroLeague Basketball, whom PAO perceives as having led "unfair" management while he was in charge.

The press release also makes mention of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a possible factor of "biased" referee management.

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After Tuesday's defeat, head coach Ergin Ataman also harshly criticized the referees, arguing some of the decisions were ridiculous.

"We didn't play well but two fouls on 3-point shots. Ridiculous. I don't understand. This is not fair for basketball to give six points to Baldwin every time in that position," Ataman critiqued the fairness of referee decisions. "So, this is not fair."

PAO and Maccabi will meet for Game 2 tomorrow in the OAKA Arena.

Full Panathinaikos statement:

Unfortunately, once again, reaching the most critical point of the season in the Euroleague and having made a great effort as Panathinaikos to return to the highest steps, we witnessed a "gross operation" taken from the memory of the "massacres" we have suffered for days by Jordi Bertomeu.We don't want to believe that the tragic things that are happening around the world that are saddening us all (in Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel) can affect professional basketball.However, unfortunately, yesterday's glaring mistakes do not allow us to think of another reason.The field of sports should never be used to heal wounds and situations that people go through, and it is a given that basketball should always stay away from all this.Panathinaikos has proven, not only this year but also historically, how much it loves basketball and operates with the advancement of the sport in mind.

It has also proven that when it plays with the sweat of its athletes, with the emotions of its millions of fans, with the money he invests, and with the enormous effort he puts in, he gets up, hits the table, and fights until the end so that justified without considering consequences.Panathinaikos has 116 years of history, perhaps longer than some states. Finally, show due respect and stop underestimating the product.

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