Turkish referee Recep Ankaralı and other assisting referees of the Panathinaikos-CSKA Moscow basketball match, played on Monday, were threatened with death after the game in Athens by Panathinaikos owner and former chairman, businessman and mafia figure Dimitrios Giannakopoulos.

According to an article in Turkish daily Hürriyet, the referees' room was raided by Giannakopoulos after the Turkish Airlines Euroleague match played in the Olympic Indoor Hall of Athens, which Panathinaikos won by 86-65.

It was reported that Giannakopoulos stormed the room along with his two bodyguards, whom prevented the Greek police from entering. Giannakopoulos also threatened kill and abuse Ankaralı's family.

As a result of the incident, Ankaralı and other assistant referees were kept at the Hall until 01:00 a.m. although the game ended at 23:45 p.m.

The Greek police escort the referees to their hotels at night, and then all the way back to passport control at the airport.

Euroleague administration fined Giannakopoulos with 150,000 euros for his threats and insults.