Athens Arena Operator Accuses EuroLeague of Severe Security Lapses During Final Four

(MENAFN) The operator of Athens’ Telekom Center has blamed EuroLeague organizers for what it described as serious security and organizational failures during the Final Four semifinal between Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe Beko.

According to reports, the venue management said that thousands of individuals were able to enter the arena without tickets or proper identity checks due to what it called negligence in event coordination and security planning.

The statement, posted on US social media platform Instagram, claimed that inaccurate operational information provided by organizers contributed to uncontrolled entry at multiple access points, despite objections from on-site security personnel.

“People were allowed to enter uncontrollably for hours,” the statement said, adding that the situation amounted to “a clear violation of the law.”

Arena officials also reported significant disruptions in ticket distribution, noting that some spectators were still waiting to receive tickets after entry gates had opened, while others who had paid reportedly never received valid access credentials.

The operator further alleged that EuroLeague security officials instructed staff to permit entry for individuals without valid tickets due to technical issues affecting the system.

According to the statement, entire groups reportedly entered the venue without identity verification, while inconsistencies in ticketing data led to mismatched seat and row allocations.

It was also claimed that accreditation failures left key security personnel, including the head of the private security contractor, unable to operate effectively due to missing credentials.

The arena management warned that overcrowding, blocked stairways, and obstructed emergency exits created potentially dangerous conditions that could have escalated into a serious incident during an emergency evacuation scenario.

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