Greece round-up: Referee assaulted after Athens derby

A Greek referee was treated for head injuries after being assaulted at the end of a match between UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists Panathinaikos FC and local rivals Olympiakos Piraeus FC today.

Head wound
Ioakim Efthymiadis was led from the field by a police bodyguard, bleeding from a head wound after a mêlée of players, Panathinaikos supporters and staff apparently rained blows on him as he made his way to the dressing room at the final whistle.

Late penalty
The trouble followed his decision to award a 93rd-minute penalty to visitors Olympiakos in the Athens derby, which was converted by Predrag Djordjevic to seal a 1-1 draw. Sporadic fighting between supporters spilled on to the streets outside the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium after the match.

'Crisis day'
Panathinaikos president Angelos Phillipides, among the first to confront the referee after the game, afterwards said: "This is a crisis day for Greek football. It's enough, I call on the government to stop the championship. The prime minister [Costas Simitis] should intervene. The current situation brings shame on the country."

Last action
The spot-kick was the last action in a heated local derby marred by widespread vandalism in the stands and a near constant stream of missiles on to the pitch. Panathinaikos staff and players surrounded the referee after the final whistle to protest about the penalty and police were unable to prevent a hail of blows being landed on Efthymiadis.

'No security'
Olympiakos coach Takis Lemonis condemned his counterpart Sergio Markarian for his role in the assault on the referee. "He rushed on to the pitch to argue with the referee. It's a ridiculous situation. There is no security and no one is safe," he said.

'Ridiculous situation'
"We were unable to see what was happening in large sections of the game as we had cups rained on us from behind. This is a ridiculous situation and a disgrace," added Lemonis. One supporter was taken to hospital at half-time after falling from the protective railings that border the pitch.

AEK stay top
As for the match itself, Panathinaikos thought they had won it when Emmanuel Olisadebe tapped home a Michael Konstantinou cross in the 76th minute. But despite taking a point Olympiakos slipped to second in the table, one point behind AEK Athens who remain top of the Ethniki Katigoria after beating Panahaiki GC 4-1 on Saturday.

Another win for Xanthi
AEK had little trouble disposing of Panahaiki and are not only a point clear of Olympiakos but four ahead of Panathinaikos with all three clubs having played 21 games. Xanthi FC remain fifth but are a step closer to European qualification following a 1-0 defeat of Ionikos. Dimitrios Zografakis scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute with a thunderous shot.

Iraklis held
Iraklis FC are now seven points behind Xanthi in sixth after only drawing 1-1 at home with OFI Crete. Pavlos Adamos put the islanders ahead in the 38th minute and they kept Iraklis at bay until nine minutes from time when goalkeeper Bekiai Stoltidis levelled the scores from the penalty spot.

Shock of the day
Akratitos pulled off the shock of the day by beating FC Aris Thessaloniki 1-0 away. Captain Lefteris Velentzas was the hero for Akratitos after he coolly beat the Aris goalkeeper following a swift counterattack. Panionios GS and Aigaleo drew 0-0 in Sunday's remaining game.