The Owner Of A Greek Soccer Team Stormed The Field And Allegedly Threatened A Referee With A Gun After His Team's Goal Was Disallowed

WaPo- Ivan Savvidis, the owner of the Greek soccer team PAOK, was not at all happy that his team’s 89th-minute goal was disallowed by an offside call Sunday against AEK Athens. We know this not because he railed to the media or demanded an explanation from league officials, as most unhappy team owners would, but rather because he decided to twice storm the field while armed with a holstered handgun and surrounded by bodyguards.

AEK Coach Manolo Jimenez told Spanish radio that Savvidis approached referee Giorgos Kominis, showed him his gun and said “your career as a referee has ended,” Marca reports. AEK’s players left the field over concerns for their safety and the match was abandoned hours later.

Now THIS is an owner I want buying one of my teams. Remember back in the day when Mark Cuban was seen as a good owner just because he would occasionally pop off about how NBA refs sucked and drive David Stern crazy? Granted, Mark Cuban is seen in a MUCH different light these days, but our boy Ivan Savvidis makes old school Cubes look weak as fuck. Even Jerry Jones gets love because he stands on the sidelines whenever the Cowboys look like they are going to win. But if Ed Hochuli was the one who called Dez’s non-catch a drop, do you think Jerruh would have been marching on the FROZEN TUNDRA OF LAMBEAU FIELD threatening lives and careers like Yosemite Sam? Fuck no. For all the shit soccer takes from Americans for being a soft sport because of the flopping, this and the hooligans beating the fuck out of each other are examples of how badass soccer can be when it’s done right. If the MLS had incidents like this, I would definitely be watching during the lulls that come throughout the sports calendar.

Don’t get me wrong though, I don’t care if my owner is packing heat or not. If you are a rich dude with bodyguards, you are instantly the most dangerous person in a stadium. Quadruple that Danger rating if you are BFFs with Vlady Putin.

Born in Georgia (the Caucasus nation, not the U.S. state), Savvidis is one of the world’s wealthiest people and former member of the Russian parliament. He’s also been described as a close ally of Russia President Vladimir Putin.

I don’t know if Ivan Savvidis owns this team because he loves the Beautiful Game or because he loves the feeling of power. But there is a baseball team in Flushing that can be had for probably like 50 Euro and a solid presentation of a get-rich Ponzi scheme. I don’t care if he’s in deep with the Rooskies, I need to see a World Series before I die.