PAOK: Chairman of Greek club invades pitch with his gun during game against title rivals AEK Athens

PAOK in their own statement claimed that Savvidis was protecting his team.

It was a chaotic end to Superleague Greece game on Sunday, March 11 when the chairman of PAOK Ivan Savvidis invaded the pitch with his gun during the match against title rivals AEK Athens.

AEK Athens are currently top of the Superleague Greece table with PAOK five points below in third.

 

PAOK hosted AEK on Sunday with the hopes of cutting their lead at the top to just two points but a Fernando Varela strike which would have been a let winner was ruled out for offside.

PAOK chairman Savvidis was furious at the decision and invaded the pitch with his gun strapped on to his waistband.

The game was called off after that incident.

AEK file complaint

AEK have filed a complaint with FIFA and UEFA as their coach Manolo Jimenez claimed to have heard Savvidis threaten the referee.

 

“We didn't know if he had a gun, then we saw it, it could be seen that he was moving his hand towards his waist because he had a gun,” Jimenez told Cadena SER.

“He threatened the referee right in front of me. According to my interpreter, he told him: 'You're finished as a referee.

“I'm stunned; I don't understand it. It's the type of thing you expect to see in a Clint Eastwood movie.”

Although Savvidis had a licence for the revolver, Greek police have also issued an arrest warrant for him.

PAOK in their own statement claimed that Savvidis was ‘preparing all necessary procedures to protect the team and all his collaborators from the threats and attacks they have been subjected to.’