Share

No spectators allowed at Greek football matches until February after volleyball violence

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
English supporters at the UEFA Europa League, Group B match between AEK FC and Brighton in Athens on 30 November 2023. (Photo by Stefanos Kyriazis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
English supporters at the UEFA Europa League, Group B match between AEK FC and Brighton in Athens on 30 November 2023. (Photo by Stefanos Kyriazis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
  • No spectators will be allowed at Greek football matches until mid February.
  • The Greek government has also promised to set up sophisticated entry systems at all stadiums.
  • On Thursday, a volleyball match was abandoned because of fan violence.
  • Football matches have seen notable instances of violence recently. 


Greek football matches will be played behind closed doors until 12 February, the government announced on Monday, in an attempt to clamp down on violence at sports events.

The decision came after a police officer was severely injured last week when rival fans clashed during a volleyball game in Athens, the latest in a series of incidents in the country.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the measure could also extend "on a case-by-case basis to European matches involving Greek teams".

This week's Europa League match between Olympiakos and Serbian club Backa Topola will be played without spectators, he added.

High-definition cameras and electronic entry systems with verification of supporters' identities will also be installed at all stadiums, according to the government.

"For a number of years, criminals posing as fans have committed serious crimes, seriously injuring and killing people," said Marinakis.

A volleyball game between Athens rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned on Thursday as fighting between fans erupted outside the arena.

A 31-year-old police officer was hospitalised in a "critical" condition after reportedly being struck in the thigh by a flare.

Police took more than 400 people in for questioning, the majority of whom were released on Saturday.

An 18-year-old was arrested on Sunday accused of shooting the flare which seriously injured the police officer.

He will appear in court later this week and faces a charge of "attempted murder".

Football in Greece has been plagued by fan violence in recent times.

Top-level games were postponed over the weekend after referees said they would not officiate in protest at what they called dangerous working conditions.

Last year a teenager was fatally stabbed in a fight in Thessaloniki between supporters of the northern Greek city's rival clubs, Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK.

The Greek government subsequently increased the maximum sentence for fan violence from six months to five years.

In July, seven defendants were found guilty of the teenager's murder and handed life terms. Five others were jailed for complicity.

The following month a 29-year-old AEK Athens fan died after being stabbed during clashes between supporters of Dinamo Zagreb and his club on the eve of their Champions League qualifier in the Greek capital.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
67% - 1070 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
33% - 518 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.76
+1.4%
Rand - Pound
23.43
+0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.08
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.25
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
924.10
-0.0%
Palladium
959.00
+0.1%
Gold
2,337.68
0.0%
Silver
27.19
-0.0%
Brent Crude
89.50
+0.6%
Top 40
69,358
+1.3%
All Share
75,371
+1.4%
Resource 10
62,363
+0.4%
Industrial 25
103,903
+1.3%
Financial 15
16,161
+2.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE