From http://www.proexposure.com/
Top 50 Basketball Stories of the Day
GREECE
Finals halted after fan violence
Panathinaikos Athens won The Greek first division basketball championship for the 31st time in the club's history on Sunday evening by defeating bitter rival Olympiacos Piraeus in a tumultuous fourth game (in a best of five series) marred by extensive fan violence in the stands. The win also marked the unprecedented eighth consecutive championship for the European basketball powerhouse. The match, played at Olympiacos' home court at the Peace & Friendship indoor stadium, was discontinued with 63 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and with Panathinaikos ahead 76-69. The game opening had initially been pushed back 40 minutes due to fan violence outside the stadium while Olympiacos fans without tickets stormed the court and attempted to attack journalists. They were repelled by riot police using teargas. Midway through the game, fans throwing projectiles, firecrackers and even flares caused Panathinaikos' players and coaching staff to retreat to the locker rooms and the referees asked for the evacuation of the stadium. Police, aided by riot control units, evacuated most fans from the venue although a few hundred remained and the game resumed an hour later, with a warning that if more projectiles were thrown, the game would be terminated. No Panathinaikos fans had been given tickets, as per the decision to not allow opposing teams' fans at away games. The final interruption at 1:06 in the fourth quarter, due to unruliness by the remaining spectators, means that Olympiacos will forfeit the match with a score of 20-0. Additionally, the Piraeus club, which reached the European Cup Final Four this season, faces a minus 4-point deduction for next season and playing at least two games without spectators at its home court. A relevant sports judge must validate the penalties.
Top 50 Basketball Stories of the Day
GREECE
Finals halted after fan violence
Panathinaikos Athens won The Greek first division basketball championship for the 31st time in the club's history on Sunday evening by defeating bitter rival Olympiacos Piraeus in a tumultuous fourth game (in a best of five series) marred by extensive fan violence in the stands. The win also marked the unprecedented eighth consecutive championship for the European basketball powerhouse. The match, played at Olympiacos' home court at the Peace & Friendship indoor stadium, was discontinued with 63 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and with Panathinaikos ahead 76-69. The game opening had initially been pushed back 40 minutes due to fan violence outside the stadium while Olympiacos fans without tickets stormed the court and attempted to attack journalists. They were repelled by riot police using teargas. Midway through the game, fans throwing projectiles, firecrackers and even flares caused Panathinaikos' players and coaching staff to retreat to the locker rooms and the referees asked for the evacuation of the stadium. Police, aided by riot control units, evacuated most fans from the venue although a few hundred remained and the game resumed an hour later, with a warning that if more projectiles were thrown, the game would be terminated. No Panathinaikos fans had been given tickets, as per the decision to not allow opposing teams' fans at away games. The final interruption at 1:06 in the fourth quarter, due to unruliness by the remaining spectators, means that Olympiacos will forfeit the match with a score of 20-0. Additionally, the Piraeus club, which reached the European Cup Final Four this season, faces a minus 4-point deduction for next season and playing at least two games without spectators at its home court. A relevant sports judge must validate the penalties.
