A week-old misunderstanding related to the controversial announcement of Superleague 1 against AEK and EPO turned into clarifications at yesterday’s organiser’s council. However, the atmosphere remains tense, with dialogue and warnings from both sides showing that it only takes one wrong whistle to blow things up.

The President of the League and Olympiacos, Vangelis Marinakis, admitted at the meeting that he himself wrote two announcements with which he answered AEK about the “Klattenberg shack”, about refereeing in the derby with Panathinaikos. He pointed out that by mistake his name had not been given, but he made it clear: “I am not taking anything back. The league has an obligation to protect its partners and teams that will compete in the future with foreign referees accused by the PAE AEK. If you have proof, bring it…”

AJC spokesman Giorgos Kosmas spoke about the unacceptable statements. “It was unfair. It is unacceptable to make announcements without informing anyone. If the announcement was signed by you personally, then let’s discuss it. We also do not take back a word of what we said. AEK has no partner in the Clattenberg League. We consider his recruitment “illegal and will never give a single euro to pay for it. We do not recognize him, we do not trust him, and there will never be a reliable professional referee led by Clattenberg,” he said, warning that if Chief Justice Steve Bennett repeats such a designation like Kabakov, AEK will withdraw its trust from him as well.

Marinakis: By mistake my name wasn’t included in the ad, I don’t get anything in return – AEK: We don’t recognize Clattenberg.

“It is a very serious matter that the President of the League can make a statement against the team without the knowledge of the members. This is the opinion of PAOK,” emphasized the representative of Makis Gagatzis, with a position that Panathinaikos agreed through their representative Leonidas Boutsikaris.

Vangelis Marinakis offered to meet in private with Steve Bennett, which was not accepted by the other participants. In addition, following a reduction in the percentage that the EPO charges on PAE television contracts from 5% to 1%, as amended by the Vice Chancellor. Sports, the co-op has agreed to seek a corresponding reduction in the percentage that the federation receives from transfers and contracts.