I personally know Giannis Tsainis, I have met manager Giorgos Paraschos, I have worked with Kostas Karapapas for some time at the same Media. Hearing the accusations of the first two against the third, even if it was just a case of "my word against yours" (which is not, there are witnesses at the case of Tsainis and possibly video material, since the verbal abuse against him happened at the Press Area of the stadium, right? What is Nova Channel's opinion about that) I would have no problem to decide which one to believe.
I think that the same would be correct for the great majority of people who are not wearing "red glasses". Of course, it is not a personal issue. It is obviously general. The selection of Olympiakos' administration, and owner Vangelis Marinakis of course, about the kind and the style of communication which is better, means more for him and less for Karapapas. Karapapas is just doing his job the way he believes it is correct and obviously his employer also believes that, as well.
The fact is that this specific, incredibly arrogant way, which includes, according to the recent accusations, bullying, threats, verbal abuse, unnamed articles to certain websites, notorious insults (the biggest one of which, according to Mr. Karapapas, is calling a man with lady name, something that reminds us of playground), with the whole package we are aware of which for many years, it is clearly a proof of the general way Olympiakos' boss is treating Greek football and the central styling he is trying to force.
However, all the things mentioned above are just simple remarks, we have spoken about that a thousand times, especially from that website. They are meaningless at this point. Only one question has real meaning right now: Since when?
Since when we will be accepting bullying at this specific stadium?
Since when we will be remaining calm when our co-workers are getting fired or ridiculed, because Olympiakos do not like them or even for no real reason (Giannis Tsainis' case).
Since when OTE TV and Nova channel will be humiliating as companies and embarrass their journalists as well, because they are afraid that they will lose the supporters of Olympiakos from clients?
When will we realize that this "communication" is making all of us dirty?
When will we react strongly, massively and organized?
When Journalists Union and PSAT will decide some specific moves, such as total and complete abstention of Media from all the games of Olympiakos, and stop thinking that normal announcements and meaningless erase of so-called journalists are enough?
And if something like that is finally decided, will be a total reaction or some of us will be afraid of losing clients once again? I fear that the second thing is more possible.
Because what we are currently missing is not the vision of what is important, is to have more journalists like Tsainis or Asvestas. We definitely need more courage.
So, the response to "since when" is, unfortunately, simple: Until we found out the least of professional self-respect we have lost, blocked between the paycheck of ignorance and the paid-club supporting or the fear of being unemployed (even the midnight visit of some bodyguards).
Unfortunately, not in the near future...
P.S. The things mentioned above have the same meaning for anybody and anything trying to imitate such behavior. Still, at this case, I will not accept the common quote of "they are all the same". Because it is just not correct. It is clearly a comparison flattering, almost vindicating, for the Press Officer of Olympiakos. Even if I do not agree with the communication ways of the big Super League clubs, their announcements or their leaks, obviously Andreas Dimatos, Stamatis Garris and Kyriakos Kyriakos are not the same with Kostas Karapapas. I have written about that in the past: Sometimes, all you need to know from the administration of a club, it is its Press Officer...
