In a significant display of disciplinary action within the Euroleague, the two Belgrade-based clubs, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, have collectively faced substantial fines, accounting for a staggering 79% of all penalties issued by the independent disciplinary judge to teams this season. Partizan Belgrade alone has incurred €213,000 in fines for 10 separate infractions.
The record for the highest single fine of the season, amounting to €59,000, was imposed on Partizan. This penalty stemmed from repeated offenses including the use of laser pointers, the throwing of objects, the ignition of flares, offensive chanting, and insufficient control over access to the playing area. Notably, this record-breaking fine occurred during a derby match against Crvena Zvezda.
On an individual level, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the controversial president and owner of Panathinaikos, has emerged as the most heavily fined individual, with a total of €50,000. This significant sum, described as a small amount for the billionaire, far surpasses other individual penalties. Following closely is his coach, Ergin Ataman, who received a €33,000 fine. The third position is occupied by Georgios Bartzokas of Olympiakos with €9,000, and the fourth by Matthias Lessort of Panathinaikos with €8,000.
The majority of these sanctions were attributed to the misconduct of fans, including offensive chants, inappropriate comments directed at referees, and a general lack of respect shown towards officiating.
Interestingly, none of the three French clubs – Paris, Monaco, and Villeurbanne – are mentioned in these disciplinary rankings.
