LAST NIGHT’S ATHENS derby between arch-rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos Pireaus was abandoned because of crowd violence.
Three fire trucks were had to extinguish flames as unruly Panathinaikos fans set fire to several sections of the stands.
The start of the second half was delayed by 45 minutes as fans pelted police with flares, molotovs and missiles and was subsequently abandoned altogether with nine minutes remaining with Olympiakos 1-0 ahead through Djamel Abdoun’s 51st-minute goal.
Several petrol bombs exploded close to the pitch, prompting referee Anastasio Kakos to take the players off the field. Twenty police officers were injured and over 50 arrests were made, while 10 molotov cocktails, sticks, firecrackers and two knives were confiscated by the authorities, police said.
Panathinaikos captain Kostas Katsouranis said Greek soccer had been shamed.
“That was not football,” Katsouranis told reporters. ”Certainly it’s one of the worst moments in Greek football and I don’t even want to comment on the game. As a team we will just try to get on with the next matches and fight for a place in the Champions League qualifiers.”
Panathinaikos’ Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira added: “I would have liked to talk about a great derby but unfortunately I can’t because this didn’t happen.
“As a professional I feel very sorry for what I saw and as a person who loves Panathinaikos, I certainly don’t understand it.”
Panathinaikos, who have already been punished once this season for the unruly behaviour of their fans and were ordered to play a match behind closed doors, will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday. Olympiakos are expected to be awarded a 3-0 victory, which would put them three points clear of their rivals before any point deductions.
I don’t remember Ali ever dodging a fight for about 5 years like Mayweather!
The lead up to the fight has been a failure. People have become both bored and annoyed by how long the fight’s taking to progress to an agreement, so it’s almost like it’s too late to drum up the hype that would have come naturally to it in 2009-12.
So they’ve to come out with this these tripe statements just to fuel the media outlets who are as bored as the public with it all.
3-5 years ago I’d have bought the PPV, now I’ll just watch the highlights in bed the next morning.
pat look at his record of wins ko’s and world titles at different weights this fella dosent have to dodge anyone it’s all about the purse, are you suggesting he’s fearful of Manny?
Mayweather is a genius of a boxer but his intelligence is confined to the ring alone. Such brainless comments from a guy with zero class. He also described how he has had it as tough as Ali in his public life, laughable stuff!
Mayweather is not the greatest…but neither is Ali…
Simon that is an absolutely ridiculous comment. And to have someone back it up is even more ridiculous. I love boxing and boxers from all eras. But for you to say Ali is considered great because he talked a lot and then he got sick is one of the dumbest comments I have ever seen. He is regarded by most experts as one of the greatest as he was, end of story. Jesus lads get a grip. He doesn’t have to be your number one but don’t make stupid comments when his record speaks for itself.
he’s right John Ali’s record does not even compare to Larry Holmes who’s career was overshadowed by Ali’s persona as I said first John Ali was a great and a lot of that greatness was from his out of ring antics but a great all the same.
2 things Paul, I agree it can be argued about different records in different eras, Holmes was class but he wasn’t as good IMO as Ali, Liston, Frazier or Foreman but he came just after them. He didn’t fight anyone of the same quality so not sure how you can say his record is better, it’s different times. Simon said most people just go along with it as he shouted and and they agreed, and then though the years they called him a great because he got sick and they felt sorry for him? Brainless comment, and an insult to real boxing fans.
I never said he wasn’t in the conversation. He definitely was up there. You make it sound like I said he was completely average. What I am saying is there are ALOT of people out there who give him the edge as #1 for reasons that have very little to do with boxing. They like him because he was funny , rebellious and ultimately because he got sick and everyone felt sorry for him. People get offended when someone points it out but it’s true.
I’m not arguing with you John as your points are valid it’s hard to compare eras Tyson for example beat a lot of very average fighters mind you he battered them ( berbeck ,Michael spinks bonecrusher Smith) to name but a few .
Whisht the lot of ye……….3 words…..Big Joe Joyce………
big Joe would bate all round him.
Paul I have already said that Mayweather is a genius but even if he wins you cannot say he is without doubt the greatest of all time, it just isn’t that simple. Mayweather made some ridiculous statements like dismissing the rope a dope and claimed he has had it tougher than Ali, including racial matters in the current climate. Totally braindead stuff! For what it’s worth I have only seen videos but by all accounts from the experts Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest, and probably Ali second, I wouldn’t disagree with that.
Ali was considered the greatest because he was a showman and I loved watching him fight no doubt about that, but his record dosent stack up against mayweather who does makes some silly comments but that’s par for the course for most boxer’s.
Not only was ali the greatest boxer of all time, he was and remains to be the greatest sportsman who’s ever lived. Deal with it
that settles that so Don it must be right if you said it.
Right on paul, right on
mayweather record speaks for itself when he batters Pac man which he will he will retire as the undisputed greatest fighter of all time, his point about Leon spinks is correct a fellow of his standard would not be allowed into watch mayweather let alone fight and beat him.
I think Ali is considered the greatest by alot of people because he seemed to shout it to people the most and people just shrugged and said alright then because he could talk. They also say it because he got sick and loads of people have been patronizing him for the last 30 years. The greatest of all time is a matter for opinion and if you disagree then that’s fine. But he definitely has been patronized far too much. Mayweather said as much in an interview a few years ago too and he was right.
100% simon