PAOK wants Greek Cup replay with a foreign referee
PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis said his club will not go to Piraeus to play the second leg of their Greek Cup semi-final match with Olympiakos unless the first leg match called off Wednesday is not replayed with a foreign referee.
"In front of a stadium filled with 30,000 spectators these people do not fear God or the devil. Criminal prosecution against refereeing provoking violence should be taken," an angry Savvidis said in an interview with OTE TV.
The Greek-Russian businessman and politician complained about the refereeing of Andreas Pappas who suspended the contest at Toumba Stadium in the 89th minute with Olympiakos ahead 2-1 after crowd trouble.
"In such matches a foreign referee should be used and if the federation doesn't have money for him, PAOK can bear the costs. For the first time in my life and watching all this I am ashamed that I connect myself with Greek soccer,” Savvidis said.
Savvidis also called for the resignation of the executive board of the Greek soccer federation as well as Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis to leave soccer "for his unacceptable conduct."
Olympiakos’s official comment on Savvidis’s statements was: "We do not deal with the delirium of Mr Savvidis."
PAOK complained about a late penalty which was denied by Pappas leading to fans invading the pitch and dozens of flares and smoke bombs being thrown from the stands.
[AFP]
