Dimitris Giannakopoulos criticizes basketball rivals and alleges institutional corruption

On November 3, 2026, Panathinaikos AKTOR owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos launched a public verbal attack directed at Aris basketball club owner Richard Xiao and the Angelopoulos brothers. Following his team's recent loss to Aris, Giannakopoulos acknowledged the superior performance of the opponent but heavily criticized Xiao’s conduct on social media, claiming it dishonored the history of Aris and disrespected Panathinaikos, a club with seven European titles.

Beyond the club rivalry, Giannakopoulos alleged a broader scandal within Greek basketball. He questioned the legitimacy of the 2025 election of Ilias Bourmas, a close associate of incarcerated basketball official Vangelis Liolios, to the ESKASE federation. Giannakopoulos claimed that Bourmas resigned in July 2026 following political pressure. He further asserted that evidence regarding these internal affairs is being submitted to the public prosecutor, suggesting that more revelations are expected as individuals prepare to speak publicly about the state of the sport.

These remarks underscore the deep-seated tensions and institutional conflicts currently affecting the Greek basketball landscape. The situation remains fluid as authorities have yet to issue official findings regarding the accusations of malpractice brought forward by the Panathinaikos executive.