KAO Melission: Complaint for racist attack and knives in Ilioupoli

Episodic game with evacuation took place in Ilioupoli with the hosts prevailing very hard with 70-69 KAO Melissia for the National League 2. The guests complain that team player was racially attackedwhile when there was a reaction even knives came out!

In its announcement, the group from Melissia states: “Our team in Ilioupoli suffered a 70-69 away loss yesterday afternoon in a game that is forced into second place, as it was marred by serious incidents, after a racist attack against a player of our team. Specifically, during the 4th quarter of the match, a group of about 15 black-clad “friends” of the home team verbally attacked a player of our team who was on the court after trying to claim the ball, with extremely racist and derogatory words. An athlete and a relative of a player of our own team, addressing the group of these individuals, asked them in a good way not to curse and to show respect to the athletes. A fight ensued, other men dressed in black arrived on the field almost immediately and attacked the fan of our team with punches, kicks, and knives came out! Thanks to the brave contribution of parents of athletes and healthy fans of both teams, we did not mourn a single victim. It is remarkable that during the match there was no police presence at all! It is really very sad in amateur sports, that some of us make our hobby by following the sport we love, that young athletes and coaches try to build their careers and chase their dreams, but also players and coaches a little older sweat every day for the their passion for the sport, their teams themselves allow and tolerate in their bosom such people, who with their attitudes they destroy everything. And one really has to wonder what exactly the teams think they can gain from such appearances on the playing fields! Also in any other civilized part of the world such vulgar racist attacks as well as acts of violence would be punished exemplary, unfortunately in this area too we are far behind».

The team’s coach, Hectors Economopoulos, said: “Congratulations to Ilioupoli for the victory, but not for the hospitality. Knives coming out in the stands, relatives of my players getting bloody and then demanding that they play with focus I think is funny. I am truly ashamed! What to say about the game: I don’t want to comment much, I will only say that I would like the cooperation of the relevant bodies, if you want us to have development in the field of basketball. To want young teams with health and to treat us off the field like this is ridiculous. On the pitch I also have complaints and not only from this game. Whoever tries to fool the referee by flopping wins a foul. Each team has an expert kid who grabs our hands, gets “electric shocks” and then straight shots. We are in every game with key players with 3 fouls quarter and 30-35 shots. Now comes Naxos and I hope we will be treated with respect. Together for the good of the game. I am proud of the effort of my players in these conditions»