Big wins for PAOK, AEK, Atromitos overshadowed by Katidis
Overshadowed by the Nazi salute of AEK scorer Giorgos Katidis, the 26th round of Super League games included the emphatic victories of Asteras Tripolis and PAOK over fellow European hopefuls Atromitos and Panathinaikos on Sunday.
AEK has risen to the 11th spot after beating Veria 2-1 at home on Saturday, but its victory was stained by the Nazi salute by Katidis after scoring the winning goal.
The referee must have missed the gesture, otherwise he would have sent off the player instead of booking him for taking his shirt off.
Katidis issued an apologetic statement on Sunday putting himself out of the club, although he is going to render account of his action to the club’s board on Tuesday. He was banned for life from all national teams on Sunday. Katidis was an Under-21 regular, and even captain at times.
Olympiakos had already clinched the title from the previous weekend and its 1-0 win at all-but-relegated Kerkyra through a late Costas Mitroglou goal was a mere formality for the Reds.
Asteras Tripolis retained the second spot downing Atromitos 2-0 via Fernando Usero and Ruben Rayos, while PAOK stayed one point behind the Peloponnesians beating Panathinaikos 2-0 courtesy of goals by Abdoul Camara and Zvonimir Vukic. Panathinaikos was left with 10 men from the 40th minute when Habib Sow got his second yellow card.
PAS Giannina is now alone in fifth, which would send the Epirus club to Europe next season, after beating struggling Aris 2-0 on Saturday. The result means that Aris remains in the drop zone, with the future turning ever bleaker for the historic club from Thessaloniki.
In other weekend games Platanias beat Panionios 2-1 and Levadiakos shared a 1-1 draw at hoe with OFI Crete.
Monday will see the Thrace derby between Panthrakikos and Xanthi.
