Panathinaikos have launched a direct attack on European football governing body UEFA over refereeing decisions following their 2-2 draw against Czech side Hradec Kralove on Thursday night. The Greek club expressed intense anger at French referee Jerome Brisard and video assistant referee Jeremie Pignard after the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off tie at the OAKA Olympic Stadium in Athens.
Club officials stated that critical refereeing errors distorted the final scoreline, leaving the tie balanced ahead of the return fixture in the Czech Republic. Panathinaikos took a 2-0 lead before Hradec Kralove rallied to score twice and secure a draw.
Following the match, PAE Panathinaikos issued an extensive official statement claiming that the officiating at the OAKA was part of a systemic pattern of unfair treatment in European competitions dating back to 2022. The club stated that they demanded respect rather than preferential treatment from European football officials.
Controversial decisions in Athens
Panathinaikos highlighted several specific incidents during Thursday night's match where they felt aggrieved by refereeing calls. While leading 2-0, Facundo Pellistri delivered a cross toward Tetteh that struck an opposing defender's arm inside the penalty area, but no penalty was awarded. The club noted that a third goal at that stage would have sealed a dominant victory.
The statement also highlighted events surrounding both Czech goals. Panathinaikos claimed that Giorgos Kyriakopoulos was fouled shortly before Hradec Kralove scored their first goal to make it 2-1. On the equalising goal for 2-2, the club pointed to an infringement inside the defensive wall that should have prompted a video assistant referee review and resulted in the goal being disallowed, comparing the incident to controversial domestic rulings by referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos.
In addition, Panathinaikos cited an incident after taking their 2-0 lead, when Pellistri broke forward on a promising counter-attack down the left wing. Play was halted for an offside call awarded in favour of Panathinaikos themselves, which the club identified as indicative of the match officials' overall handling of the game.
Four years of refereeing grievances
Panathinaikos detailed ten specific matches over the past four years where key refereeing decisions went against them in European competition. The club noted that the pattern began in August 2022 during a 2-0 defeat away to Slavia Prague, when Argentine winger Sebastian Palacios was sent off in the 40th minute for a second yellow card for simulation, despite not appealing for a penalty. The dismissal left Panathinaikos with ten men and ruled Palacios out of the second leg.
In August 2023, Panathinaikos were denied a penalty in a 1-0 defeat to Braga when Jose Fonte stepped on Daniel Mancini inside the box. Later that season against Maccabi Haifa, the club stated that Pierre Cornud fouled Mancini prior to the Israeli side's second goal, while Frantzdy Pierrot interfered with goalkeeper Yuri Lodygin from an offside position.
The club cited further incidents from the 2024-25 campaign. In August 2024, Jorrel Hato stepped on Fotis Ioannidis inside the penalty box without penalty intervention in a match against Ajax. In October 2024 against Borac Banja Luka, Nikola Vukcevic committed an unpunished handball on a shot by Nemanja Maksimovic, while Borac's goal originated from an unearned foul decision.
The statement also referenced a November 2024 match against Djurgarden in Stockholm, where Ioannidis was fouled prior to the Swedish side's second goal in a 2-1 defeat. In stoppage time of that match, Adam Stahl elbowed Filip Mladenovic without receiving a second yellow card, while Mladenovic was booked for protesting despite Stahl having been cautioned in the 18th minute.
Recent European campaign calls
Panathinaikos pointed to three additional European matches from recent seasons to complete their list of grievances. In July 2025, defender Georgios Vagiannidis was sent off in the 58th minute against Rangers in Glasgow, significantly altering the flow of the match.
In February 2026, Panathinaikos were denied a penalty when Tetteh was brought down in the 59th minute during a match against Viktoria Plzen, in a game where the Greek side also suffered a red card. Most recently, in March 2026 against Real Betis, Abde Ezzalzouli was offside at the start of a move that led to Betis's second goal in a 2-0 defeat, kicking the ball while exposed without VAR intervening to annul the goal.
Demand for equal treatment
Panathinaikos FC, founded in 1908 and based in Athens, are one of Greek football's most decorated clubs. The team plays its major European home fixtures at the 69,000-capacity Spiros Louis Olympic Stadium, known as OAKA, and competes in the UEFA Conference League, Europe's third-tier continental competition.
Concluding their statement, Panathinaikos stated that ten major refereeing decisions across four years had directly altered match outcomes and European qualification ties. The club declared that they would not accept anything less than equal treatment under the rules, consistent standards, and the respect suited to their history as they prepare for the second leg in the Czech Republic.
