Euroleague: Panathinaikos’ sanctions changed

Euroleague – Panathinaikos Athens will be playing two of its home games in different locations this season. One will be in Cyprus while the other will be played in Crete. This comes after Euroleague Basketball has announced a change in sanctions originally imposed on the Greek club. The move is part of the application of new competition by-laws which will be in effect this 2013-14 season. They allow for such changes to be made, under certain circumstances for the benefit of the basketball community.

Panathinaikos will now play Laboral Kutxa Vitoria on October 25 at Eleftheria Indoor Hall in Nicosia, Cyprus. It will play Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar on November 7 at Iraklio Arena in Crete.

Euroleague Basketball had originally fined the team 100,000 Euros and the imposition of four closed-door home games for illegal acts which took place during the team’s quarterfinals games against FC Barcelona Basket. There was a use of illegal sirens, flares, and firecrackers; and also there were violations in the official capacity of OAKA stadium (Panathinaikos’ home) during their games against Barcelona.

“This change in Panathinaikos’s sanction was decided with the fans in mind, as well as with consideration for new competition by-laws to take effect this season,” Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. “Where the incidents that led to the sanction occurred, the penalty still stands: no games at OAKA. At the same time, we have taken the opportunity to give the team’s large fan base elsewhere a chance to enjoy something in person that they would not otherwise be able to: an official Turkish Airlines Euroleague game.”