BELGRADE – Panathinaikos Athens head coach Ergin Ataman mistakenly congratulated the wrong team following his squad’s 86-68 EuroLeague defeat to Crvena Zvezda on November 6, 2025. The gaffe occurred immediately after the game, prompting a swift correction and apology from the Turkish coach.
The incident underscores the intense rivalry within the EuroLeague and highlights the pressure-cooker environment of high-stakes international basketball. Ataman’s error,occurring after a dominant performance by Crvena zvezda (20-12,26-20,21-8,19-28),briefly overshadowed the Serbian club’s victory and sparked a moment of confusion during the post-game press conference. Panathinaikos currently holds a 5-4 record after nine EuroLeague contests.
Initially, Ataman extended congratulations to Olympiacos, a Greek rival of Panathinaikos. “Congratulations to Olympiacos with the win,” he stated, according to reports. Recognizing the error amidst the reaction in the room, Ataman quickly corrected himself.
“Oh, sorry. Your fans supported and Olympiacos [chanting an Olympiacos cheer], so I got confused. Congratulations to Crvena Zvezda with the win,” Ataman clarified.
Analyzing the game, Ataman attributed the loss to a slow start and persistent shooting struggles. “we didn’t hit open three-pointers, we let the opponents control the game. At the start of the second half, everything went the same way, with the exception of the fourth quarter. At that moment, some players showed character, but we couldn’t come back,” he explained.
