(Piraeus) Public Enemy #1: Pablo Garcia (videos)

By: Peter Katsiris | November 20th, 2008

Sunday night determined two things: PAOK’s challenge for the Super League title is far less superior than Olympiacos’ stranglehold on the Greek game; and Pablo Garcia is one dirty SOB.

With the two top ranked sides meeting at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, the stage was set for a battle of two supreme sides. Olympiacos emerged victorious, but not unscathed - at least Diogo wasn’t. Only two goals were featured in the scoreline, but it was a not-so-behind-the-scenes punch that caught everyone’s eye at Karaiskaki.

PAOK’s Uruguayan defensive-midfielder, Pablo Garcia, sucker punched Olympiacos striker Diogo during a free-kick for the hosts (see video below). Diogo appeared to have the last laugh of the night, literally, as the punched one was on hand to head in Olympiacos’ second goal of the night.

There has always been a physical aspect to the PAOK - Olympiacos derby. The most recent example came in last year’s edition of the derby at the Toumba Stadium, where Sergio Conceicao got into a physical encounter with Olympiacos keeper Antonis Nikopolidis (see video below); however, those two put their differences aside in the first meeting since that tussle in the tunnel.

On his first trip to the the cathedral of Olympiacos CFP — that’s Karaiskaki for all of you not caught up with Greek football — the Portuguese midfielder never got too much of hassling reaction from the audience. For Garcia, the Piraues community has already started a well populated Facebook group titled “Hijo de Perra - Pablo Gabriel Garcia Pérez” with a display pic clearly reflecting the group’s thoughts. If the creative photo-shopped photo of Garcia is not enough to convince you of the hate in Piraeus for the Uruguayan, a look at the group’s description will surely change your mind:

“He thinks he’s a boxing-player but actually he is a piece of sh*t. F*ck you Pablo Gabriel Garcia Pérez, you are a son of a b*tch and you know you are!”

Still not convinced? Then have a peek at the long list of comments (many in Greek, and too obscene for a blog such as this).

As for burying the hatchet, it is likely not going to be that easy for Olympiacos’ Brazilian starlet. A punch to the gut is never a nice feeling — even if you do it for a living. With the two sides not meeting until March 2009, there is surely enough time to ‘chill’ as they say - whoever they are…that is still left at large.