Greek police on Monday issued an arrest warrant against PAOK Thessaloniki owner Ivan Savvidis for invading the pitch while carrying a gun in his hip holster during a Greek Super League clash with AEK Athens. The football club owner marched onto the pitch with his gun after a disputed goal. Although Savvidis reportedly has a licence for his revolver, he is wanted by police for entering the playing area, police sources told AFP. The match was called off in the 90th minute after PAOK defender Fernando Varela's goal was initially ruled offside, prompting an angry protest from the hosts that led AEK to walk off the pitch.
AEK had complained that Savvidis came on to the pitch with a gun in his hip holster and threatened referee Giorgos Kominos, who was reportedly told "you are finished" by PAOK technical director Lubos Michel.
Kominos some three hours later changed his decision and awarded the goal to PAOK - if the 1-0 scoreline stands they would take over first place in the Greek table from AEK.
The referee could not convince AEK to return to complete the final few minutes after they expressed concern for their safety.
PAOK's owner Ivan Savvidis has to be held back from attacking the ref with a gun after his team's last minute goal was disallowed pic.twitter.com/WGlpGieb1H
— ROBBRYblog (@ROBBERYblog) March 12, 2018
The visitors also complained that Savvidis attacked AEK director Vasilis Dimitriadis.
Savvidis had asked his team to leave the pitch in protest after Kominos's decision, but PAOK's Portuguese captain Vieirinha refused and the team did not go to the locker rooms, unlike AEK.
Greek media reported Monday that the leftist government is seriously considering suspending Super League contests until judicial authorities clear up pending decisions on matches involving violence.
Deputy Sports Minister Giorgos Vasiliadis is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and measures are certain to be announced.
"There is no need to talk, but to take tough measures," Interior Minister Panos Skourletis told Athens News Agency.
"The scenes that we have seen have hurt Greek football. Anyone who comes on the pitch with a revolver is provocatively unacceptable."
(With AFP inputs)
- Greek police issued an arrest warrant against PAOK Thessaloniki owner
- The match was abandoned in the 90th minute
- PAOK owner walked into the field to protest a disallowed goal
