EOK proposes team-led referee selection amid Panathinaikos boycott

The Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) held a meeting with Stoiximan GBL clubs on September 8, 2026, to discuss the management of refereeing. Panathinaikos BC and Maroussi chose not to attend the session. Panathinaikos stated that its absence was due to the federation's failure to address long-standing grievances regarding the Central Refereeing Committee (KED), citing a formal proposal for professional refereeing the club submitted back in January 2025.

During the meeting, EOK president Vangelis Liolios proposed that the clubs themselves select the referees for their matches from a pre-approved list provided by the KED. This proposal, which Liolios claimed was originally introduced three years ago, also includes a condition that teams must refrain from publicly criticizing referees to protect the league's reputation. EOK has granted the clubs a one-week deadline, until September 15, 2026, to accept or reject the proposal. While the federation characterized the absence of Panathinaikos as an isolationist move, the club maintains that it will only engage in discussions if the federation demonstrates a genuine intent to implement structural changes.