PAOK chief's hot revolver
A disallowed goal in the closing stages of a Greek league match sparked anarchy on Sunday night, with an aggrieved club president storming the pitch while appearing to carry a holstered gun.
PAOK chief Ivan Savvidis twice marched onto the field surrounded by bodyguards to remonstrate with referee Giorgos Kominis, after Fernando Varela's 89th minute goal was chalked off against AEK Athens with the score 0-0.
Savvidis wore a holster on his waist containing what appeared to be a revolver, though he did not remove it during the ensuing fracas.
AEK coach Manolo Jimenez claims Savvidis verbally threatened the official, allegedly telling him 'you're finished as a referee'.
The goal was eventually allowed to stand about two hours later according to state television reports, with fans at PAOK's Toumba Stadium unsure of the final result. The league's official website records a final result as a goalless draw.
"We didn't know if he had a gun, then we saw it," AEK'S Jimenez told Cadena SER. "It could be seen that he was moving his hand towards his waist because he had a gun."
He added: "He threatened the referee right in front of me. According to my interpreter, he told him: 'You're finished asI'm stunned; I don't understand it. It's the type of thing you expect to see in a Clint Eastwood movie."
Savvidis was born in Georgia of Greek heritage and is a former member of the Russian parliament. He has holdings in assets ranging from Thessaloniki port to tobacco and media companies.
PAOK said in a statement: "After what happened today, PAOK chairman Ivan Savvidis is preparing all necessary procedures to protect the team and all his collaborators from the threats and attacks they have been subjected to. There will be relevant announcements on the issue soon."
The Thessaloniki club had seen a three-point deduction overturned less than 24 hours before the game, punishment for crowd trouble that saw a February match against Olympiakos abandoned after their manager was struck on the head by a roll of paper.
"Such extreme phenomena call for bold decisions," said Greece's sports minister Georgios Vassiliadis in a written statement.
"We will not allow anybody to deter us from this path, even if tough decisions are required in consultation with UEFA," Vassiliadis added.
PAOK chief Ivan Savvidis twice marched onto the field surrounded by bodyguards to remonstrate with referee Giorgos Kominis, after Fernando Varela's 89th minute goal was chalked off against AEK Athens with the score 0-0.
Savvidis wore a holster on his waist containing what appeared to be a revolver, though he did not remove it during the ensuing fracas.
AEK coach Manolo Jimenez claims Savvidis verbally threatened the official, allegedly telling him 'you're finished as a referee'.
The goal was eventually allowed to stand about two hours later according to state television reports, with fans at PAOK's Toumba Stadium unsure of the final result. The league's official website records a final result as a goalless draw.
"We didn't know if he had a gun, then we saw it," AEK'S Jimenez told Cadena SER. "It could be seen that he was moving his hand towards his waist because he had a gun."
Savvidis was born in Georgia of Greek heritage and is a former member of the Russian parliament. He has holdings in assets ranging from Thessaloniki port to tobacco and media companies.
PAOK said in a statement: "After what happened today, PAOK chairman Ivan Savvidis is preparing all necessary procedures to protect the team and all his collaborators from the threats and attacks they have been subjected to. There will be relevant announcements on the issue soon."
The Thessaloniki club had seen a three-point deduction overturned less than 24 hours before the game, punishment for crowd trouble that saw a February match against Olympiakos abandoned after their manager was struck on the head by a roll of paper.
"Such extreme phenomena call for bold decisions," said Greece's sports minister Georgios Vassiliadis in a written statement.
"We will not allow anybody to deter us from this path, even if tough decisions are required in consultation with UEFA," Vassiliadis added.
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