Dimitris Giannakopoulos receives ten-month stadium ban

On November 6, 2026, the ESAKE sports judge imposed a ten-month ban on Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the owner of Panathinaikos BC, from entering all sports stadiums. This disciplinary action follows a complaint filed by Olympiacos BC regarding a social media post on Instagram. In addition to the stadium ban, Giannakopoulos was fined 60,000 euros, while Panathinaikos BC received a fine of 30,000 euros for the same incident.

The sports judge ruled that the Instagram posts were defamatory toward Olympiacos BC and its coach, dismissing the owner's defense that the content was removed shortly after being posted. The ruling focused on allegations that Giannakopoulos implied Olympiacos was involved in the ongoing 'Basketgate' scandal, a series of legal and procedural issues currently impacting Greek basketball. The court rejected claims that the owner did not understand the nature of the posts.

In response to the penalties, Panathinaikos BC has announced its intention to appeal the decision by filing an official challenge with the Supreme Council for Dispute Resolution (ASEAD) to seek a reduction of the sanctions.