The president who entered the football field with a gun

Greece reacted very quickly after events occurred at Thessaloniki's “Tumba” stadium, at the end of the match between PAOK and Athens' AEK.

Greek police announced that they have issued an arrest warrant towards the PAOK owner, Ivan Savidis, who entered the playing field equipped with weapons to intimidate the match judge.

Finally, the Russian-Greek president of PAOK, has apologised publicly with a statement:

Honourable “gentlemen, I would like to apologize to all PACE fans, all Greek fans, the football community. I'm sorry about what happened. Of course, I have no right to go out in the field that way. My emotional response has been caused by the overall negative situation, which prevails in Greek football recently and all the unacceptable events that occurred at the end of the PAOK-AEK match.

The magistrate's actions, fighting off, protesting and entering the field of dozens of people from both teams. All of this could cause the situation to fail, and my only goal was to protect PACE fans from provocations.

I had no intention of interfering with the opposing team or judges. I haven't threatened anyone. My colleagues and I are hostage to the football institution, which is completely ill. I'm fighting and I'm going to keep fighting continuous attacks on all levels for an honest football, with fair arbitration.

Again I apologize! President PAOK, Ivan Savidis