The Greek top-flight match between PAOK Salonika and AEK Athens on Sunday was abandoned after PAOK’s president, Ivan Savvidis invaded the pitch with a gun. Savvidis tried to confront the referee with a gun in a hip holster after his side had an 89th-minute goal ruled offside with the score 0-0.
AEK’s players left the pitch concerned for their safety and did not return. The match was officially abandoned two hours later but it was reported that the referee had reversed his decision.
Savvidis asked his team to leave the pitch following the offside decision then marched towards the referee before being pulled back by bodyguards. PAOK are third in the Greek top flight and could have moved within two points of leaders AEK with a win.
However, local police have issued an arrest warrant for Savvidis, according to Skai TV, but only for invading the pitch area, and the Deputy Sports Minister, Giorgos Vasiliadis, announced on Monday that all Greek Super League matches have been postponed until further notice following a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Both Fifa and Uefa condemned the actions of Savvidis, but announced that any disciplinary measures “fall under the jurisdiction of the Greek FA”.
PAOK released a statement on Monday, but failed to reference the fact that their club president took a gun onto the pitch while the match was still being played. Instead, it stressed that “Savvidis is preparing to take all necessary steps to protect the club and all his executives and associates from the threats and attacks they are suffering”, before adding that “more relevant announcement” will be made.
