Greece's deputy sports minister has warned that the national basketball championship will be permanently suspended unless the feuding owners of archrival teams Panathinaikos and Olympiacos agree to meet for a truce by 3 p.m. local time.
Giannis Vroutsis, who extended an invitation to Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos and Olympiacos owners Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, stressed the government's resolve.
He stated that if the two sides refuse to attend, "the season will be called off for good."
"There will be no penalties on the teams," Mr. Vroutsis told media. "But Greek basketball will decline further, and the stain will remain on those responsible for this image."
Giannakopoulos said he would set aside personal differences and attend the meeting, describing it as a "minimum duty" to the fans and the state.
"Despite my strong aversion to the Angelopoulos brothers, I will be there," he stated, adding that not attending would be a clear act of sabotage against the championship.
However, Olympiacos responded with a firm refusal, stating they "reject sitting at the same table" as Mr. Giannakopoulos and would not change their stance. They did express support for completing the league finals without further incidents, provided the government allows the series to resume.
Tensions between the two clubs have escalated in recent weeks, threatening to derail the Greek Basketball League finals.
The government’s intervention, while unusual, reflects growing concerns over the damage to the sport’s credibility and reputation both domestically and internationally.
The last time the championship was canceled was in 2019, also amid turmoil involving the same rivals. Without a last-minute breakthrough, Wednesday’s deadline could bring Greek basketball’s troubled season to a historic halt.