Last Updated: December 12, 2023, 13:45 IST
Riot police detain dozens of followers exterior the Melina Merkouri indoor stadium, in western Athens, early Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. A Greek policeman has been severely injured as a mob of volleyball followers poured out of an Athens enviornment and attacked riot police. A flare shot by a fan severed an artery within the thigh of the 30-yr-previous officer Thursday night time. (Yorgos Matthaios/Eurokinissi Sports through AP)
The Greece authorities has banned spectators at soccer matches for 2 months following a sport-associated riot final week and the rising variety of supporter violence.
All prime-flight soccer matches in Greece shall be performed with out followers within the stadiums for the following two months, within the latest crackdown on supporter violence following a sport-associated riot final week that left a police officer with life-threatening accidents.
The authorities stated Monday that it could introduce emergency laws to make the ban on supporters efficient instantly. It will finish on Feb. 12 with a doable extension to comply with.
This previous weekend’s skilled soccer matches had been postponed following a sequence of violent incidents at matches and final week’s riot that occurred exterior a volleyball sport believed to be led by organized soccer fan teams.
The 31-yr-previous police officer who was injured within the clashes stays hospitalized in a coma after being hit within the left leg by a flare, inflicting intensive bleeding and cardiac arrest.
“This murderous attack against a policeman is not the first incident of extreme fan violence in recent years. Criminals in the guise of sports fans are committing serious offenses, seriously injuring and killing people,” authorities spokesman Pavlos Marinakis informed reporters.
He stated all 14 golf equipment competing within the prime-flight Super League must set up surveillance cameras inside stadiums and use customized ticketing techniques that require the holder to point out identification upon entry earlier than being allowed to confess supporters.
The safety techniques, together with a community of excessive-decision surveillance cameras inside stadiums, must adhere to requirements set by soccer’s governing physique in Europe, UEFA, Marinakis stated.
An 18-yr-previous man has been arrested and brought into police custody in reference to the police officer’s harm to face costs of tried homicide. The man, who has not been recognized, appeared at an arraignment listening to Monday after being escorted to court docket in handcuffs by police. He was given till Thursday to arrange his protection.
Violence has plagued Greek soccer for many years regardless of repeated efforts to crack down on the supporters’ associations blamed for the assaults, principally exterior stadiums.
Olympiakos, below new Portuguese head coach Carlos Carvalhal, will face Serbia’s Backa Topola within the Europa League at dwelling Thursday with out followers on account of the choice.
But Greek golf equipment Panathinaikos and PAOK will conclude their European matches with followers. Panathinaikos hosts Maccabi Haifa in Athens Thursday within the Europa League and PAOK hosts HJK Helsinki within the Conference League additionally on Thursday in Thessaloniki.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
