The Coach Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 The president of Greek club PAOK Salonika has apologised after he came on to the pitch with a gun during his side's match on Sunday. Ivan Savvidis had a gun in a holster when he entered the field after PAOK had a late goal ruled out for offside against AEK Athens. The incident led to the Greek Super League being indefinitely suspended. "I am very sorry. I clearly had no right to enter the field of play in this fashion," said Savvidis. He asked his team to leave the pitch after PAOK had a goal ruled out for offside in the 89th minute and then marched towards the referee with two bodyguards before being pulled back. Greek football has been marred by crowd trouble in recent seasons and PAOK were deducted three points - but managed to overturn the sanction on appeal - after Olympiakos coach Oscar Garcia was hit by a toilet roll thrown from the stands at PAOK in February. Savvidis has claimed his reaction stemmed from the "widespread negative situations" in Greek football, the actions of the referee and his assistant, match suspension, the protests and the invasion of the pitch by "many people on both sides". "My only aim was to protect tens of thousands of PAOK fans from provocation, riots and human casualties," Savvidis added. "Please believe that I had no intention to engage in a brawl with our opponents or the referees - and obviously did not threaten anybody. "Unfortunately, my family and I, as well as my colleagues, have been taken hostage by a totally sick football status quo. "Despite the non-stop attacks I am facing on all fronts, I fight and I will continue to fight for fair football, equitable refereeing in all encounters and titles being won on the pitch and not in courtrooms." AFP news agency is reporting that Savvidis is on the run after local police said they were seeking Savvidis to arrest him on Monday. Savvidis, one of Greece's richest men, was born in Georgia of Greek heritage and is a former member of the Russian parliament. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43383313 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogkev Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Wow, extraordinary stuff; there has to be enough material there for a good book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Toilet rolls being thrown . This sort of thing should be wiped out ... softly . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taz Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Fair play to him, would stop all these players that can't be bothered 6 weeks after signing a 2 year extension to their contract. If they're playing crap, the owner runs onto the pitch waving a gun at them. Could catch on. Players like Nicky Hunt would have been put out of their misery years ago.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Coach Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 I'm expect Lansdown to run on the pitch against Ipswich with a potato gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curr Avon Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Red_Wizard said: I'm expect Lansdown to run on the pitch against Ipswich with a potato gun. Potato gun! Haven't you seen the size of his portfolio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTone Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Major Isewater said: Toilet rolls being thrown . This sort of thing should be wiped out ... softly . Star trek bog rolls ? They wipe out Klingons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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