Panathinaikos AO in EEC: “We will not compete without Pavlos Giannakopoulos, the participation of Cypriots is photographic”

The relevant letter in detail:

“The Panathinaikos Athletic Club expresses its strong displeasure to the relevant basketball federation for this year’s announcement for the women’s A1 Category championship.

To our great surprise and displeasure, we received, on 12/06/24, the Special Notice A1 National women’s category, competition season 2024-2025.

After several meetings with the unions concerned, you proceeded to send the specific announcement, modifying the corresponding last year’s with articles that were never discussed or simply announced at the last meeting.

We therefore inform you that our Association will declare participation in the championship, with an express reservation regarding the following articles, the content of which it does not accept, reserving all its legal rights:

Article 5.10

A photographic provision has been added for the participation, without limitation, of Cypriot female athletes in the championship, with the sole condition that they participate in at least two (2) competitive seasons in the championships of young ages in Cyprus or Greece.

This particular article, which was not agreed upon in the union meetings, finds us diametrically opposed. In order for a Cypriot athlete to compete as a Greek, she must have the right to participate in the National Team of Greece or Cyprus.

Please correct the article.

Article 6.5



As you know, television rights (according to the sports law) belong to the associations, which may grant them to the respective Federation. At our meeting last year we agreed based on what you introduced us and assured us to grant to the EEC. In particular, you presented us with a broadcast program similar to that of the elite men, where there would be coverage, by a television provider, of one or two matches per matchday, while the remaining matches would be covered via livestreaming by the Federation or alternatively by the associations and costs, in the second case, it would be covered by the EEC.

We have decided, in consideration of the greater good and the promotion of the league, to participate in the central management losing significant and necessary revenue from our provider, but ensuring that no additional costs will be incurred by the club.

Instead, you changed the agreed by offering the paltry amount of 100 euros per broadcast, when you know that the cost of a serious online coverage, which you claim you want in the context of the upgrade of the organization, costs 450 euros plus description costs.

We believe that in order to upgrade the organization’s product, you must secure a bigger budget for the associations for online broadcasts. Otherwise we reserve the right to manage our television rights.



Article 7.2

In last year’s announcement, coaches were asked to dress in suits rather than sports uniforms as a justification for any upgrade. For this purpose, you provided the unions with the amount of 800 euros. This year you maintained the obligation but abolished the provision. At the same time, fines are provided for the unions that “dare” to disobey your orders.



Article 10.4

We do not understand the feasibility of changing this article from optional to mandatory. Here is last year’s order: “The matches of the Play offs of the A1 National Women’s Division, for the best promotion of them and in the context of the upgrading of the championship, must be held in stadiums approved for the holding of European matches (Fiba approved), if there is availability and as long as the clubs have respectively used them in the 2023-2024 season, either in domestic or in European competitions” and this year’s abusive amended provision: “The matches of the winners G1-G2 of the 4th phase of the Play offs of the A1 National Women’s Division , for the better promotion of and in the context of the upgrading of the championship, must be held in stadiums approved for the holding of European matches (Fiba approved), which the clubs may have used in the 2024-2025 season, either in domestic or in European events”.

We categorically state that, as long as Panathinaikos A.O. qualifies for the finals of the championship, it will play at its natural home, the Pavlos Giannakopoulos stadium, which, as you know very well, holds an operating license and complies with the conditions.

In case you insist on the application of article 10.4 and oblige our team to play in another stadium, we declare that we will not compete.

Article 15

Paragraph C1

As you know, the commercial rights corresponding to the television rights belong, according to the sports law, to the sports associations which may grant them to the Federation. We have no objection to the promotion of sponsors of the Federation or the championship, but we make it clear to you that the central circle of the Panathinaikos A.O. it belongs to him, bears the Association’s mark throughout time and will remain so.

This letter is an integral part of the declaration of participation of the Panathinaikos A.O. in the women’s basketball championship, season 2024-2025″.