Karipidis: “Bad moment with Frapar, I shouldn’t have reacted like that”

His self-criticism about her attack on referee Frapar after his Cup final Mars with Panathinaikos did Theodore Karipidis. The strongman of the “yellows” talked about a bad moment in an interview with Political.

“First of all, let me clarify that the unfortunate incident that happened at the end of the Cup final with the referee of the match, Mr. Frapar, was a bad moment for me. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. A final, where the entire organization and the organizing authority EPO, as we have already said, did not live up to the circumstances of the institution. An incident which is due to the justified indignation when they deprive you of the achievement of a goal you have been chasing for 54 years in the way they deprive you of it. Inside and outside of Greece there were several authoritative opinions about the inadequate level of arbitration and while there should have been a real shame for it, those who control the EPO and not only “dropped it” on me trying to drag me away and at the same time wash away their toxicity that has been proven to harm Greek football for decades. However, what I said to the referee was not in the “French” they use. The “swear” that I allegedly said and was called racist by the oligarchs’ media was this: “Shame on you, you destroyed us”. They punished me with a 20,000 euro fine and at the same time they tried for three days to wash away someone who has no idea about football and spoiled the final of the Greek Cup. And since some say I didn’t react to Frapard’s definition, what was I supposed to do? Should I say we won’t go down to play in the final? Or make announcements and be graphic, like some others? Things were on track, it seemed. However, I don’t see these media being bothered by swearing at other female referees. Does it not count if she is Greek? If this is not incitement to violence, then what is? Or does the new sports law only affect football? Nor do we need to remember incidents of violence against referees on and off the pitches by big players pointing the finger that I allegedly cursed the referee in the final. Hypocrisy abounds. They’d better come out and say that I’m bothering them because I don’t do them any favors and they want to kick me out of football. It’s more honest and… pants this“, he emphasized.

Taking stock of the completed season he said:The year that ended was not the one we wanted, mistakes were made, we recognize that. It is clear that there were failures and mistakes, which we are already analyzing internally. I’ve said it before that I’m not afraid to take responsibility and I’ll do it again. I will never hide. I accept criticism and listen to it. However, I do not accept the depreciation and leveling. This year made me review the way I operate in general and now there will be a different approach. I have done my self-criticism after the loss of the Cup and for this there will be a general restart in the team. Next year we want to improve both at the competitive and at the organizational level and personally I have a lot of sadness in me about how the year ended. People are very bitter, it is completely justified, but the team has continuity, it has a demanding daily life and it must be supported by everyone. This is a one-way street. PAE Aris and I personally thank the huge people of our team for their undivided support over the years, while understanding their disappointment and apologizing to them for not winning the Cup. I really couldn’t imagine that they would become such an abomination. It is also clear that in the eight years since the current shareholders took ownership of PAE Aris, important goals have been achieved, which become even more important if we consider the particularly adverse and unequal competitive conditions. Aris as a huge and historic association must find a way to make up for the historically lost ground because it must always be a protagonist. In this direction, the shareholders of PAE Aris are working to further strengthen the club at all levels with the ultimate goal of achieving leading goals at the sporting, business and social level in Greece and Europe, immediately proceeding with all the necessary actions with respect to the huge history of the club. From there, we work on strengthening the roster. There will be quality additions from major leagues. With all that they did to us and all the injustices against us, what they succeed in is to insist us to raise the budget. The budget will go up as much as it should so that we can claim the best possible position in the league and in the Cup to reach the end again. We are for now, Mars is forever».