Panathinaikos, Olympiacos commit to peaceful league finals
In a rare show of unity, Greece’s two historic basketball powerhouses, Panathinaikos BC and Olympiacos BC, have jointly committed to ensuring a peaceful and fair conclusion to the 2024–2025 Greek Basket League championship finals.
The joint statement, issued Wednesday, came after separate meetings with Deputy Sports Minister Yiannis Vroutsis, who had summoned both clubs in a last-minute intervention to deescalate growing tensions surrounding the finals. The minister had warned that failure to resolve the conflict could result in the cancellation of the championship.
In identical declarations, both clubs affirmed:
“We declare our unconditional commitment to an absolutely peaceful completion of the finals of the Basketball League championship finals 2024–2025, in agreement with the principles of fair play.
We have full confidence in Greek justice for all issues that have arisen.”
The joint stance aims to reassure fans, authorities, and sponsors, following weeks of strained relations and concerns about potential violence during the finals — a scenario not unfamiliar in the heated world of Greek sports.
Both clubs boast a rich history of rivalry and success, and their promise to uphold sportsmanship and respect for the law could set a precedent for future engagements in Greek professional sports.
