PAOK president banned for storming onto pitch whilst 'carrying a pistol'

AFP/Getty Images
Standard Sport29 March 2018

PAOK Salonika's president Ivan Savvidis has been handed a three-year football stadium ban and a hefty fine for storming onto the pitch with a gun during a league game.

The club have also been docked three points, and handed a €63,000 (£55,150) fine, which significantly affects their title challenge this season.

PAOK were leading the Greek Super League by a point but now drop to third behind AEK and reigning champions Olympiacos.

Savvides, a Georgia-born businessman and former Russian state Duma deputy, charged onto the pitch with a gun in his belt when a goal for PAOK was disallowed in a match against fellow title contenders AEK on March 11.

The president has also been fined €100,000 (£87,560) for the incident.

The Greek league was suspended in the wake of the incident and will resume this weekend after agreeing to government demands, including automatic relegation for future clubs responsible for violence.

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