Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has described as “cheap opposition” claims that basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo would not be allowed to compete on the Greek national team under current migration laws and regulations overseen by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris.

“It is a criticism that is out of place and time,” Marinakis said during a regular press briefing. “The law refers to illegal immigrants who attempt to enter the country unlawfully and repeals a provision that would automatically legalize them after seven years.”

Marinakis highlighted Antetokounmpo’s example: “He is now a symbol of the country and of sports, not because of medals, but because of his example. He and his family were born in Greece, went through very difficult times, and are Greek. They worked hard, went to school, and have nothing to do with those trying to enter the country illegally.”

He criticized any party seeking to use a national sports figure “to create impressions within the framework of their own obsessions,” calling it a sign of desperation.

Although Antetokounmpo and his younger brothers were born in Greece, he did not receive Greek citizenship at birth as his parents, who migrated from Nigeria in 1991, did not have residency papers. He was only granted Greek citizenship in 2013 at the age of 18.

Under a new law passed earlier this month, undocumented migrants entering Greece from third countries deemed safe by the EU and not entitled to asylum must return home or be detained for at least 24 months and face fines of up to €10,000.

Plevris told parliament during the debate on the new provisions that the rights of Greeks who want to protect their country outweighed the rights of someone whose asylum was rejected and was staying in Greece illegally.