UEBO condemns Giannakopoulos: Panathinaikos president criticized referees

After numerous accusations by Panathinaikos president Giannakopoulos against referees during the EuroLeague playoffs, the Union of EuroLeague Basketball Officials (UEBO) issued an official statement. It should be noted that UEBO never mentioned Giannakopoulos directly, but rather “a club owner”. Giannakopoulos has already been fined 100,000 euros.

UEBO’s official statement

The EuroLeague Playoffs highlighted the best of European basketball—intensity, talent, and drama. UEBO (Union of EuroLeague Basketball Officials) congratulates all players, coaches, clubs, and fans who made this postseason a celebration of the sport.

We are proud of our referees, selected for the Playoffs, who performed under enormous pressure with fairness and professionalism.

During the playoffs, a club owner posted repeated attacks on EuroLeague referees, calling them dishonest, referring to the league as “the EuroLeague mafia,” and warning “Let’s see if they will dare to assign them again.” These threats and unfounded accusations, widely shared across social media and European sports media, included personal harassment and damaging language like “disgusting actions.” They disrupted the officiating nomination process, harmed our members personally and professionally, and undermined trust in the game. In some cities, police escorts are now routine. Must we wait for something worse before real action is taken?

Referees, like players and coaches, make mistakes. But our officials are highly trained professionals who review and analyze every performance, working constantly to improve.

Their decisions are made in good faith, without bias or agenda.

During the playoffs, UEBO chose not to respond publicly, out of respect for the competition and the focus on the games. Now we must speak clearly:

⁠We categorically deny the allegations made against our members. If anyone believes they possess credible evidence of unethical behavior, we urge them to present it to the proper legal or disciplinary authorities. We are not afraid of close examination and welcome transparency, because we are confident in the truth: there is no evidence, because there is no misconduct.

However, if accusations are made recklessly, without proof, and with the clear intent to manipulate public opinion, pressure decision-makers, or intimidate referees, we call for strong and immediate consequences. These actions harm the credibility of the competition, endanger individuals, and must not be tolerated. Financial penalties alone are insufficient.

Although EuroLeague leadership has not yet issued a public statement condemning the attacks or expressing support for its referees, we remain confident that they share our core values and will stand alongside us in upholding the integrity, fairness, and professionalism of the game.

We call on all stakeholders—clubs, players, coaches, media, and fans—to join us in building a culture of respect, professionalism, and honest dialogue, both on the court and in the public space.

We express our appreciation to EL coaches – EHCB and players – ELPA for their ongoing support. Together, we continue working toward better officiating standards and a stronger, more rewarding basketball experience for all.