Open Letter from PAOK Sports Club to Basketball Branch: Contract Crisis is Growing

The amateur branch management of PAOK, one of Greece's deeply rooted sports clubs (AS PAOK), has published a very harsh open letter against KAE PAOK, the company managing the basketball branch, regarding the use of PAOK Sports Arena and the commercial rights to the club's crest. The amateur branch management claims that since Kasım 2025, the basketball team has been using the court and the emblem without signing any contract and without paying a single euro. This commercial dispute has deeply shaken the relations between different companies and billionaire owners operating under the same roof. Described as a scandal, this situation appears to have become even more complicated around the club's 100. yıl events and other financial obligations. All these developments reveal the serious problems in the internal functioning of a club well-known in Greek basketball.

Looking at the club's financial structure, the huge gap between the football branch (PAE PAOK) and the basketball branch (KAE PAOK) stands out. The football branch, owned by İvan Savvidis, has been making regular payments for years by adhering to official contracts signed with the amateur branch for the use of Toumba Stadyumu and the historic club crest. Within this season alone, the football branch has made a payment of 1.7 milyon avro to its amateur arm, AS PAOK, as required by the contract. In addition, the football company assumes all maintenance and usage expenses of Toumba. However, the lack of the same corporate discipline and financial responsibility on the basketball side is drawing the reaction of the executives. This comparison proves that the problem is not personal, but stems entirely from a lack of corporate functioning and compliance with contracts.

The management of Telis Mistakidis, who took over the majority of the basketball team's shares in Kasım 2025, is unfortunately accused of making no financial contribution to the club. The AS PAOK management emphasizes that despite countless meetings and repeated broken promises, they have not been able to obtain any income from the basketball branch. Worse still, although Mistakidis's representatives claimed that 500.000 avro was donated to the club during the summer months, AS PAOK states that this amount was a personal gift for the 100. yıl celebration events. This donation, which has nothing to do with the basketball team's court usage fee, is being tried to be turned into an excuse for KAE PAOK to escape its actual responsibilities. The management states that all these developments make them feel that they are being treated not like a historic club, but like begging dependents.

The ongoing dispute is not only about court rental; it has also emerged that Mistakidis's previous promises were not kept. In Ekim 2025, it was announced that Mistakidis would cover the cost of Jeff Jendrik, the American player transferred to the club's volleyball branch. However, despite months passing, this payment was never made. Furthermore, KAE PAOK representatives, who have been using the court without signing any official contract, drew backlash by demanding AS PAOK to pay for the expenses of some minor renovations they allegedly made in the arena. The fact that a company using the facilities for free claims to be a creditor to the club for the works it allegedly carried out is described by the executives as 'an unbelievable audacity'. Such attitudes have completely undermined the sense of trust within the club.

The peak of this internal crisis was experienced just before a critical board meeting to be held on 7 Temmuz 2026. The KAE PAOK management sent a letter late at night, almost like an ultimatum, making completely unexpected demands. The letter includes astonishing articles such as the separation of electricity and water meters and shifting breakdown and maintenance costs onto the amateur branch. Furthermore, while suggesting that mutual independent meters be installed, they continue to refuse to pay the salaries of the personnel who ensure the security of the facilities. Considering that KAE PAOK needs to submit the necessary documents for league participation by 7 Temmuz, it is obvious that this ultimatum is a maneuver aimed at pressuring the club. It is a fact that the PAOK family facing such a damaging dispute before such an important date has caused great concern among the fans.