Panathinaikos basketball owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos has been banned from Greek sporting venues for 10 months and handed a €60,000 fine following a disciplinary ruling over a social media post.

The decision was issued by the Greek Basketball League’s disciplinary judge after rival club Olympiakos lodged a complaint concerning an Instagram publication by Giannakopoulos.

The post was connected to chants by Panathinaikos supporters referring to a scandal in Greek basketball, prompting Olympiakos to file a formal complaint.

Panathinaikos was also ordered to pay a separate fine of €30,000 in connection with the case.

The Athens-based club has announced that it will appeal the ruling before the Supreme Council for the Resolution of Sporting Disputes (ASEAD).

Meanwhile, Margarita Thanou, a member of the Panathinaikos board and the club’s legal adviser, was acquitted in relation to the complaint filed by Olympiakos.

The ruling adds to tensions between the two Greek basketball rivals, whose rivalry remains one of the most closely followed in European basketball.