Heraklion Mayor defends OFI Crete against Bild's ‘no-name’ label

Alexis Kalokairinos, the Mayor of Heraklion, has issued a formal letter to the German newspaper Bild in response to the publication describing the Greek football club OFI Crete FC as a ‘no-name club’.

The criticism followed OFI Crete’s 2-0 victory over the German side Hoffenheim during the opening match of the Europa League League Phase. In his response, Kalokairinos called the term ‘inappropriate’ and ‘dismissive’, noting that the club has a storied history dating back to 1925 that is deeply intertwined with the city of Heraklion.

The Mayor emphasized that a club’s financial or market value should not be the sole metric for its identity or recognition, stating that the recent victory simply provided an opportunity for a respected European team to become better known to a wider audience.