Ivan Savvidis

The Hellenic Federation of the Deaf has called on former deputy education minister Costas Zouraris to apologize over the use of the phrase "deaf-mute" to describe the Greek-Russian president of PAOK soccer club, Ivan Savvidis, who stormed on to the pitch with a gun during last Sunday's abandoned league match against AEK Athens.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos on Thursday refuted a comment made earlier in the day by a lawmaker with Independent Greeks (ANEL), the junior coalition partner in the leftist-led government, suggesting "friendly relations" between the administration and Greek-Russian business tycoon Ivan Savvidis.

Soccer prosecutor Constantinos Simitzoglou on Wednesday brought disciplinary action against PAOK chairman Ivan Savvidis who has been at large since Sunday night after storming onto a pitch carrying a gun in a holster. 

The Russian businessman faces a fine for threatening soccer officials and a stadium ban for three to five years. 

In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington during an official visit to the US, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to a "new generation of oligarchs," saying that he deemed it is his duty to ensure that Greece "does not become a failing state when it comes to its institutions." 

PAOK president Ivan Savvidis has apologized to Greek fans and the world soccer community in a written statement for storming on the pitch during last Sunday's Super League match against AEK while carrying a gun on his waist.

Sunday's events at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki will have repercussions well beyond the soccer pitch, as the law dictates that the action will now unfold in the country's sports and criminal courts. What is at issue here is not just be the fate of PAOK, but also the pitch invasion by its armed owner, Ivan Savvidis - a tangible illustration of the oligarch's belief that he is above the law.

Greece's sports minister promised to take "bold decisions" on Monday after the owner of soccer team PAOK went onto the pitch while apparently armed to protest over a disallowed goal during a match with another Greek team, AEK.

Greece's left-led government came under fire on Monday morning for fostering a culture of lawlessness after the owner of a soccer club invaded the pitch while armed with a gun on Sunday.

An arrest warrant was issued on Monday against PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis as well as four other people, after the controversial Russian-Greek businessman stormed the pitch.

The Komotini administrative court lent tobacco company SEKAP some breathing space on Friday, putting off its definitive decision regarding the firm's 38.2-million-euro fine until January 17.