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| 90minsgist 📺 |
The Greek Super League was thrown into global headlines back in March 2018 after one of the most shocking incidents in modern football. The President of PAOK Thessaloniki, Ivan Savvidis, stormed the pitch during a crucial league clash against AEK Athens — with a gun in a hip holster clearly visible.
The dramatic scene forced the Greek government to suspend the league indefinitely, sparking debates about violence, safety, and the state of football in the country.
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⚠️ The Incident: A President With a Gun on the Pitch
On March 11, 2018, PAOK were playing AEK Athens in a highly charged top-of-the-table clash. In the final minutes of the game, PAOK thought they had scored a decisive goal, only for the referee to rule it out for offside.
Furious at the decision, club president Ivan Savvidis stormed onto the pitch, surrounded by bodyguards. To the shock of millions watching, a holstered pistol was clearly visible on his belt.
Savvidis reportedly tried to confront the referee directly, though no shots were fired. The match was abandoned shortly after, and the referee and players were escorted away for safety.
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| This the original picture of what happened that faithful day 📸 |
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📰 Immediate Fallout
The incident quickly made global headlines and embarrassed Greek football at the highest levels. Within 24 hours, Greece’s Sports Minister announced that the Super League was suspended indefinitely until new safety protocols could be agreed upon.
> “We have decided to suspend the championship. We will not restart it unless there is a new framework and agreement in place.” — Greek Sports Minister
International bodies like FIFA and UEFA condemned the scenes, warning that Greek football risked severe punishment if order was not restored.
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⚖️ Consequences for Savvidis and PAOK
In the weeks that followed, both Savvidis and PAOK faced heavy sanctions:
❌ Ivan Savvidis was banned from entering stadiums for three years.
💶 PAOK were fined over €100,000 and initially docked points.
📉 The decision effectively damaged PAOK’s title challenge at the time.
Savvidis later issued a public apology, claiming he entered the pitch to protect fans and insisting he had no intention of threatening the referee. Still, the image of a club president with a gun on the pitch became an infamous moment in football history.
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| POAK fans |
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🌍 The Wider Impact
The scandal was a wake-up call for Greek football, which had already been battling issues of fan violence, corruption, and weak governance. The suspension forced authorities to implement tougher security measures and stricter rules for club officials.
Although the league eventually resumed later that month, the reputation of Greek football took a hit internationally. To this day, the “PAOK gun incident” is remembered as one of the wildest and most shocking episodes in the modern game.
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✅ Final Take
Football is built on passion, but what happened in Thessaloniki in 2018 crossed every line imaginable. A club president invading the pitch with a gun not only embarrassed Greek football but also highlighted the urgent need for discipline, order, and professionalism at all levels of the sport.
While PAOK have since rebuilt their image and achieved domestic success, the incident remains a powerful reminder that violence has no place in football. ⚽🚫🔫
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