Baltakos: “I never said this to Karipidis about Aris – The meeting with Bennett was my proposal”

Takis Baltakos categorically denied that he cursed and threatened Aris in a telephone conversation he had on Sunday night with the powerful man of the team, Theodoros Karypides.

“No, I didn’t say anything like that to Karipidis, everything is a result of a match in Thessaloniki that had a lot of tension. I’m not going to go into the process of saying what we said in a private conversation. And he was irritated and I have experienced them as a factor from the past. As you know, I hardly get irritated. Karipidis called me 16 times, but I didn’t answer because I had it on mute. You see, Aris’ match with PAOK ended a few minutes before Panathinaikos’ derby with AEK. I can’t watch game if I’m talking on the phone. I was irritated because he had called me 16 times. He too was irritated. The conversation was private. I will not say publicly, nor do I make announcements. Those related to football understand this. It was an unfortunate moment for both him and me. Maybe I shouldn’t pick up the phone so we don’t chat like this“, the president of EPO told Metropolis.

As for what he is credited with saying against Ares? “I’m laughing because I never said anything like that about Mars. I did not say such a thing with a future connotation about Mars. I said something about Karypides, not about Mars. As president of EPO, I have no intention of offending, not only Aris, but also any group. I went to EPO for all the teams. Of course not, I didn’t say anything, I never said that wherever I find Ares I will… And besides, I don’t believe them“, he pointed out, while clarifying that “… sorry to ask for something I haven’t said? What should I apologize for? It’s absurd, I’m the president of EPO and I’m going to deal with one group? That does not exist. I will never tell anyone what Karipidis told me».

Asked if Thodoros Karipidis warned him that people would come to his house, he answered: “No, he didn’t say anything like that to me, he didn’t mention the world. But I can deny as you understand, but I cannot confirm. I have not said such things about Mars. I repeat that it is not right, when two people talk one night after a derby. That’s why I didn’t make an announcement like EPO. Private conversations should remain as they are. I don’t even have a personal difference with Karipides. No one when he is soft will take the other 16 times. If I sat down to publicize every conversation. I don’t believe in them. I believe in a manly approach».

The president of the EPO foresees a similar tension in the playoffs. “The picture I have is that the playoffs will be intense. With the possibility of four teams taking the championship, there will be tension. I expect there will be a continuation of the tension. That’s why Bennett asked to speak with the representatives of the teams. It is not right for me to talk about arbitration. Mr. Bennett accepted my proposal. I told him to have a meeting to solve many questions about the referees coming to blow the whistle. Today with the announcement we made, this process will go a long way to clarifying. Now whether they will come or not, I don’t know. They can come gradually, in twos or threes. They as a league have to decide what they want to do».

Finally, regarding the dust raised by the issue of the appointment of the referees in the playoff matches, Mr. Baltakos said: “For the referees, the KED issued an announcement. Elites are 26, not 100. It’s not easy to find them mathematically either. Even though we raised their wages. They have obligations in their own leagues. Then Greece does not have a good reputation as a country for the championship it organizes. Bennett himself will provide the answers. Let the president of Aris or AEK or Panathinaikos ask him about any question they have».