Panathinaikos for Dabanovic-Higler: “The only way is the resignation of Freudfeld, in addition to being incompetent, he is also suspicious”!

And all this just one day after improbable decision by VAR operator Ivan Bebek, to turn a blind eye to the obvious overthrow of Verbitz by Pineda in the match against AEK. A controversial referee, who in the recent past was demoted by UEFA due to his unprovoked refereeing in a Europa League quarter-final game, while his whistles in the match against Olympiakos three years ago in “Karaiskakis” have been unforgettable.

Inside the toxicity that some have imposed on Greek football, PAE Panathinaikos has strategically chosen not only to refrain from such practices but also to try to be part of the solution and not the problem. But when such a thing takes place alteration of the Championship it must not only react but also propose solutions.

Recently, arbitrations in favor of AEK and against its competitors have become the norm, posing a challenge to the sports fan world, especially in VAR times. Chief referee Freudfeld and those who chose him from scandalous proceedings. Mr. Freudfeld, who in the past had been a candidate again for the position of chief referee and did not receive a single vote (!), was hired by the E.P.O. under the following non-transparent procedures:

a) His name suddenly appeared at the E.E.P. meeting. as the only (!) candidate without prior information to the members.

b) UEFA’s clear requirement that the teams decide who will be the referee was not respected.

c) Despite the express request of Panathinaikos, EPO refused to ask UEFA to send a list of proposed head referees, so that their CVs could be evaluated and the relevant interviews could be carried out, as had been done in the past.

d) Despite the express request of Panathinaikos, there was not even an interview with Mr. Freudfeld, but he was immediately hired by E.E. of E.P.O.

e) Hired by E.E. of E.P.O. despite his many years of abstention from refereeing events (he is in charge of a gym/sports center in a city in Sweden) and without having the slightest experience with the VAR system.

f) Hired by E.E. of E.P.O. without anyone knowing his earnings and without including a condition for his presence in our country (hence his very rare appearances).

In the context of avoiding toxicity, PAE Panathinaikos, despite its expressed objections to the hiring of Mr. Freudfeld, gave him a grace period to be evaluated. The choice of Mr. Higgler (who had wronged Panathinaikos in an earlier match against Volos), now shows that Mr. Freudfeld is incapable of bringing to Greece referees of the same level as the criticality of the games, and the appointment of Dabanovic shows that apart from from incompetent he is also suspicious!