Where is Ergin Ataman tensions seem to be inevitable - it was like that after the first Euroleague playoff match against Maccabi, and even more fiercely after the second...
The Turkish expert who leads the Greek Panathinaikos had an interesting press conference after his team drew 1:1 against the club from Tel Aviv.
"Do you know what happened now? When I was going to the locker room, someone from the Maccabi headquarters, I don't know who because he didn't have accreditation, said to me: 'You will see in Israel, you will see what the Zionists will do to you'."
He also had a reply to such a message.
"Come on, I'm Ergin Ataman, I'm the coach of Panathinaikos, the coach of Turkey and a Turkish citizen - you can't do anything to me," Ataman said in his own style.
The man who was two-time European champion with Efes was angered by the Euroleague's announcement that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the statements he made after the first match with Maccabi.
"It is very strange to me that an organization like the Euroleague, which I always protect, makes a statement about me saying that I damage its reputation. If I do something wrong, if I speak about referees, there is a rule book - punish me. Why do you turn certain people against me. I didn't criticize the organization of the Euroleague, I criticized the specific decisions of the referees," emphasized Ataman.
He continued in a similar vein…
"I'm not stupid. I won two Euroleagues in a row, I led teams to more than 300 games in the Euroleague. I was just explaining to Greek journalists why I was angry after some referees' decisions," Ataman said, among other things.
The series between Panathinaikos and Maccabi now moves to Belgrade, where the Israeli team will host.
Bonus video:
