2024-03-02 07:50:16
The sports website footballleaguenews.gr with its detailed article presented Diagoras’ apology for the game with Olympiakos B’, where among the articles that called the “blue and red” are the 18 par.1,2 of the P.K. about racism.
In detail, the publication states the following:
The apology of Diagoras Rhodes for the “banana, banana” shouted by a fan at Algasim Ba of Olympiakos B’.
In the immediate mobilization of the owner of Diagoras Rhodes, Christos Papadimitriou and in the “thank you” of Olympiakos B’, the “blue and red” stood in their apology for the racist behavior of a fan who shouted “banana, banana” to Algasim Ba. The match was played on February 11 in Rhodes and PAE requested its exemption. In fact, it was conveyed to the president of the seat that Diagoras will be a helper if it is decided to close door 6 by the end of the year.
FL News attended the trial and reports…
PAE Diagoras was represented by the lawyer, Haris Grigoriou, while the owner, Christos Papadimitriou, testified as a witness. The first was based on article 18 par.3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. which provides for reduced sentences or none if there are significant extenuating circumstances. Among other things he said:
“In the 82nd minute of the match, a completely stupid and immature guy, thinking he was in the cafe or at home, said ‘banana, banana’ without addressing Ba. Hearing her, two things happened. The security officer threw him out of the field and Christos Papadimitriou went and hugged the footballer during the physical interruption. The whole stadium started clapping and he clapped back. These are in pictures.
The next day, Olympiacos spoke about the immediate intervention of Diagoras and thanked for the fact that the issue ended immediately. Legally there is no racist or act that reduces, tarnishes, defames. “Banana” leads to a kind of deviation at the border of red. In its birth it was extinguished. The patient, in fact, returned the applause.
“Close gate 6 until the end of the season”
I invoke article 18 par.3 which refers to extenuating circumstances. Mr. Papadimitriou, an educated businessman who respects all workers, many of whom are foreigners, acted immediately. You have the option to fine us and evacuate port 6. We would request the latter. We have punished the fan and he will not come near the pitch again.
If you can and find a way out, close the platform. You will find us helpful. We don’t deserve the fine. We moved like lightning and the incident didn’t escalate because of an idiot who said “banana”. We are struggling and finances are difficult. Everyone is talking about a grant of 150 thousand, but it is 110,000, because there is also the VAT. A fine of 5,000 would be devastating. We ask for our release.”
“No other Greek team has done it”
Christos Papadimitriou revealed that he asked the referee to stop the game at the expense of Diagoras if another such expression was heard. As he testified:
“Rhodes is the flagship of tourism. If there were issues of racism it would be an insult to the whole island. My bride is “colored”. We have 400 employees and we respect them all. Here an idiot shouted… I went in and asked the referee if others were shouting to stop the game against us. We got him out right away.
I hugged the football player, apologized to him and the whole stadium when the substitution was made applauded him. Immediately he reciprocated. This idiot thought he was with his company and having fun. I told the referee if two, three more are thrown to stop it. This has never been done before by a Greek team.”