Greek Super League suspended as club president confronts referee with gun

Ivan Savvidis, PAOK Salonika president, tried to confront the referee with a gun in a hip holster after his side had a late goal ruled out for offside against AEK Athens

The Greek Super League was indefinitely suspended after PAOK Salonika's president invaded the pitch with a gun during a match on Sunday.

Savvidis, one of Greece's richest men, was born in Georgia of Greek heritage. He is a former member of the Russian parliament.

The president asked his team to leave the pitch after PAOK had a goal ruled out for offside in the 89th minute. He then marched briskly towards the referee with two bodyguards before being pulled back.

Not unexpectedly, AEK's players left the pitch concerned for their safety and did not return.

The match was officially abandoned two hours later. Local police sought Savvidis in order to arrest him.

Deputy Sports Minister Giorgos Vasiliadis announced the abandonment of all top-flight matches on Monday after a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

World football governing body Fifa and European chiefs Uefa both condemned the incident. However, they insisted that any disciplinary measures "fall under the jurisdiction of the Greek FA."