Kosmas: “What Marinakis said is unacceptable, the head referee has the approval of UEFA”

Reply to Vangelis Marinakisafter his attack on Dimitris Melissanidis (and Ivan Savvidis), the George Kosmas. At the EEP meeting on the subject of the chief referee, AEK was represented by the managing director and vice-president of PAE, who initially characterized as unacceptable the words of the strong man of PAE Olympiacos and president of the Super League. Then he got to the heart of the matter.

THE George Kosmas stated: “We completely agree with the characterization as unacceptable of what the president of PAE Olympiacos said. They are unacceptable because we act only on the basis of the statutory provisions and the whole process as we find is completely within the regulatory framework. As it became known here, the candidate that was brought to our attention has the approval of UEFA, he has spoken with the UEFA official in the area of ​​refereeing and there is no problem in relation to what we have discussed in the League… The fact that he did not send UEFA some other candidates is its own matter and of course we cannot wait for months if it will send, without even being certain that it will do so. What the president of PAE Olympiacos said is unacceptable».

At the same time, Mr George Kosmas emphasized: “All this is extremely hypocritical (s.s.: what PAO, OSFP said about the Swede’s lack of personality in the interview they took when Clattenberg was “cut” and upvoted) when we have experienced the Clattenberg rant. We then unanimously chose Clattenberg and made a huge mistake. Because he ended up pranking and talking to the teams. It proved disastrous. A thousand times anyone else! AEK made a mistake then, realized it and will not repeat similar mistakes. Who had suggested the Swede? UEFA. And now Mr. Baltakos told us that he has her acceptance, when he brought the matter to her attention in the last contacts he had during his life in Cyprus».

Also, O CEO of PAE AEKhe said: “Since you are talking about the Swede’s personality and whether it is easy or not because of his personality… to be pierced, you tell me (to Butsikaris, Karapapa): Was Clattenberg, who supposedly had a strong personality, “pierced” or not? Did he or didn’t he prank the teams? Are you happy Mr. Boutsikaris? Was Clattenberg good? And for AEK, the ideal scenario would be if there were many nominations from UEFA. But the question is whether this process is feasible at such a time when all the known head referees are employed elsewhere and will continue to be employed until the end of the season.

Mr. Marinakis said that the Swede is unemployed. So if UEFA sent an extra name, wouldn’t he be unemployed for the month of October? Everything you do is hypocritical. Mr. Boutsikaris said that last time the Swede was cut from the four teams and Clattenberg was preferred and the only reason he mentioned was that his personality did not convince him that he can cope with the demands of the Greek league. He did not say that he is untrustworthy or suspected of corruption. On the contrary. He admitted his honesty and said he does not question his course and his morals. So what’s the problem? Mr. Butsikaris said that the Swede had mentioned then that he would come to Greece with his family and his caravan and this is indicative of his mentality. And where is the harm? The caravan is not bad. Daraveri is bad. A thousand times the caravan from Clattenburg who talked right and left and shook the football in the air».

THE George Kosmas added: “I did a first search on the internet to see if the Swede has been accused of anything, if he has a dark spot in his career. I did not find anything. Have you found anything suspicious? No. Then why don’t you want us all to move on together? Let’s agree, give you, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, a vote of confidence and let’s get out of here together. And of course judge him in as much time as you want. In a week, in a month, whenever you want. But don’t judge him before you see him and without knowing him. Anyway, Olympiacos had withdrawn its confidence in Clattenberg two weeks after it had voted for him. Until, of course, she makes up with him and hugs him again…».

In conclusion, Mr George Kosmas pointed out: “Mr. Butsikaris says that this procedure is against the holistic study and the regulations and that the EEP should have decided how this search will be done. The holistic study does not oblige for such a thing. Please have Mr. Philippousis read the statute to us at the point in question regarding the election of the chief referee in order to establish whether this is the case and about who brings proposals for the chief referee (s.s.: at that point the executive secretary of the EPO read the statute and it became clear that the president of the EPO makes a recommendation to the Professional Football Committee). AEK wants a referee who will not talk to teams, will be honest and clean. The Swede has these elements and his CV covers us. He was head referee in Sweden for ten years. What is wrong with him? UEFA had also nominated him in the past. Then unfortunately we made a mistake and went for Clattenberg with the notoriously miserable results. Let’s fix that bug too. AEK has no reason not to vote on the motion for Mr. Freudfeld».