Panathinaikos expresses strong dissatisfaction with UEFA refereeing

Panathinaikos FC has lodged a formal complaint against UEFA following the first leg of the Conference League play-offs against Hradec Králové, held at the OAKA stadium on August 20, 2026. Club officials claim that the refereeing team, led by French referee Jerome Brisard and his assistant Jeremy Pignard, significantly altered the match result through questionable decisions. Specifically, the club highlighted an uncalled handball penalty following a cross from Pellistri to Tetteh, alongside disputes regarding the validity of the two goals scored by the Czech side.

The club asserts that this incident is part of a broader, systemic pattern of unfavorable refereeing decisions that have affected Panathinaikos in European competitions since 2022. Panathinaikos stated that they are not seeking preferential treatment but are demanding consistent respect from match officials. The club views these recurring events as a lack of institutional respect that has severely impacted their European campaigns over recent years.

Following the match, the club issued an official statement emphasizing that the controversial officiating has fundamentally changed the outlook for the upcoming return leg in the Czech Republic. There are currently no indications of further formal legal action from UEFA, and the club remains focused on the second leg of the play-off round.