The Angelopoulos Brothers
Comments from Olympiacos owners:
“We accepted the government’s invitation out of respect for the Prime Minister and the attending ministers, but we fail to see the purpose of this gathering. Nothing occurred from our side; the behavior exhibited by Mr. Giannakopoulos during the SEF game was wholly unacceptable.
We are distinct entities and reject any attempts to draw equivalence between us. Nothing untoward happened on our part—we remain entirely above board. We cannot agree to be compared to Dimitris Giannakopoulos, who, during the SEF game, entered the court, made obscene gestures toward us and the crowd, and even uttered threats against my underage daughter. There is no basis for conversation with someone like that. The government now faces a choice: light or darkness.
Throughout our 20 years with Olympiacos, we have consistently shown respect for the Greek government, institutions, and the judicial system. We have operated legally, prioritizing Olympiacos’ best interests, maintaining our composure even in disappointing outcomes. We always ensure that games at SEF are conducted under optimal conditions.
Games are held without protective nets, and not a single paper airplane has been thrown. Giannakopoulos behaved provocatively—his actions were intentional and disruptive. He has faced sanctions totaling 85–90 months.
His social media presence is rife with incendiary content that fosters toxicity and violence. The discussion should not be about the championship’s conclusion but whether we will tolerate such behavior in sports venues. We should not be equated—neither us nor the isolated fans who chanted a slogan, which is regrettable, with the actions of an erratic owner on the court.”
“It’s important to reflect on these matters correctly. For the past seven years, I’ve endeavored to guide the Angelopoulos brothers toward an ethical pathway. I hope they had a wonderful name day, and I’ve even invited them to join me in a charity game. However, they oppose me at every turn.
They hurl insults whenever I attend SEF. During my visit to Abu Dhabi, they directed curses at me in front of my son, despite me not provoking them.
The entire situation has become derailed, with no one even discussing the refereeing.
We met with the referees, and I communicated: ‘Basketball is a challenging sport. I will always view it through green-tinted glasses, as Olympiacos does through red. Yet, there are regulations you must follow. If people are being insulted, the match should be halted, and Panathinaikos should be awarded the championship on the fifth occurrence of such behavior.’”
All they requested from Olympiacos was for me to be expelled.
They later claimed that I made derogatory remarks about their daughters. In reality, I said: ‘Don’t you hear them threatening to f*** my daughter?’ They mischaracterized my words.
It was unacceptable for the game to be postponed, as it serves to benefit Olympiacos by affording them additional rest. This is a distortion of competition. The championship should progress and be determined on the court. Anyone breaking the rules must face consequences. I place Panathinaikos above my own pride, and I’m confident that if the championship proceeds, we will secure another title and widen the lead.”
Lastly, it is worth noting: Olympiacos posted a video on their official website that insulted my daughter, complete with audio. We have initiated legal action, yet no one has come forth to apologize since then. This is Olympiacos.”
The Angelopoulos brothers are expected to arrive shortly, though there’s no official update on their timing.
We are also awaiting Dimitris Giannakopoulos.
Representatives from Panathinaikos BC have arrived.
Mr. Parthenopoulos is joined by Panathinaikos BC’s legal advisor, Mr. Desipris, and sports director, Mr. Kontos.
Ο Παρθενόπουλος έφτασε στο υπουργείο! #paobc #olympiacosbc pic.twitter.com/s78kT7hRLz
— gazzetta.gr (@gazzetta_gr) June 4, 2025
Also in attendance will be the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Giorgos Mylonakis.
The long-anticipated meeting between Minister of Sports, Giannis Vroutsis, and the owners of Panathinaikos BC and Olympiacos BC, despite numerous challenges, is expected to take place today, even if they meet separately.
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