UEFA was quick to react. A few hours after the death of a Greek fan in clashes in the suburbs of Athens, UEFA announced the postponement of the meeting between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb. The match counted for the third preliminary round first leg of the Champions League.
A 22-year-old Greek fan was fatally stabbed in violent clashes between the two clubs’ ultra groups overnight Monday and died of his injuries in the Athens hospital to which he had been transported. , explained the police. The killed supporter had come to encourage the Athens club and was attacked in the suburbs of the capital, during a brawl.
The club paid tribute to their supporter on their social media. The club posted a black and white photo of the victim: “Michalis, AEK will never forget you. Exemplary condemnation for the killers and those responsible,” he also wrote.
Michael, AEK will never forget you! Exemplary punishment for the murderers and those responsible! pic.twitter.com/h0ug4XosVx
These violent clashes left, according to the police, at least eight injured: three Greeks and five Croats. “Serious incidents took place outside the Nea Filadelfia stadium. A young Greek man stabbed is dead, “reported the Greek police, who made 96 arrests until Tuesday morning. Among the injured still in hospital is a miner injured in the head by a rock throwing, state broadcaster ERT said.
UEFA, which “deplores” “appalling incidents”, and declares “waiting for those responsible for this terrible act to be arrested and brought to justice”, said it was in discussion with the two clubs to reschedule the meeting Friday 18 or Saturday August 19. The return match scheduled in Zagreb on August 15 is maintained, as is the travel ban for supporters of the two clubs abroad, which also concerned the first leg which was finally postponed.
Dinamo Zagreb management said in a statement on Tuesday that they “strongly” condemned the clashes. “We recall that UEFA has taken the decision, in agreement with the police, that both matches will be played without traveling club supporters and we urge Dinamo supporters not to travel to attend the match in Greece” , also adds the Croatian club.
Greek Citizen Protection Minister Yannis Oikonomou called the incident “unacceptable and unacceptable” and called for the dismissal of seven police officers who failed to prevent the clashes.
According to the Ministry of Citizen Protection, groups of supporters from both sides clashed near the stadium, throwing stun grenades, stones and incendiary devices and other objects. Some had bats.
The violence began about an hour and a half after his training ended with the visiting team leaving the field under police escort, the ministry added. The match was scheduled for 5:45 p.m. CET on Tuesday.
An investigation has been opened and those arrested are to be heard by the prosecutor on Tuesday, according to the Greek news agency Ana. About a hundred hooligans from the Croatian club were present in the Greek capital, adds Ana.
Greece’s main left-wing opposition party Syriza has criticized the lack of oversight by Greek authorities. “Croatian hooligans, with a storied history of far-right ties and violent attacks, crossed the country with one goal: to stir up trouble […] Were they being watched by Greek authorities? Were there any preventative checks on their route? “Questioned the release of this party.
The AEK was founded in 1924 by Greek refugees from Asia Minor, and remains close to the left-wing anti-racist movement. This commitment has also brought AEK and Marseille fans closer, who play Wednesday in Athens against another Greek club, Panathinaikos.
The Bad Blue Boys, Croatian hooligans of Dinamo Zagreb, and Gate 13, which contains the hooligans of Panathinaikos, maintain fraternal relations. As rivals of AEK Athens, Panathinaikos hooligans do not hesitate to lend a hand to visitors during punitive expeditions. In November 2018, the Champions League match between AEK Athens and Ajax Amsterdam, some hooligans of which are also linked to Panathinaikos hooligans, had resulted in many clashes.
Such violence is a frequent feature of football matches in Greece and, after the death last year of a young man, the government raised the maximum jail term for violent supporters from six months to five years.
On the night of February 1, 2022, in Thessaloniki (North), a young supporter, Alkis Kampanos, aged 19, was beaten and stabbed to death after a football match between the two rival clubs of the city, the PAOK FC and Aris FC. In July, seven of the twelve defendants in this case were found guilty of intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison. The other five received sentences in excess of 19 years for complicity. It was the third death in three years due to fan violence in Thessaloniki alone.