2023-12-11T15:00:59+00:00
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/ The Greek government decided on Monday to impose a ban on the presence of fans in local football league matches until February 12, 2024, in an attempt to reduce the violence that looms over sports in the country.
The decision came a few days after violence occurred Thursday during a volleyball match in Athens, where a policeman was seriously injured.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said, “All Greek (football) championship matches will be held behind closed doors during the next two months, that is, until February 12,” explaining that this measure could also apply “on a case-by-case basis with regard to European matches.” For Greek teams.
High-resolution cameras and electronic access systems to verify fans’ identities will also be installed in all stadiums, according to the government.
Marinakis said: Over many years, criminals posing as fans have committed serious crimes, resulting in serious injuries and murders.
Last Thursday, a policeman was seriously injured during violence on the sidelines of a volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
The 31-year-old policeman was injured in the thigh and was taken to the hospital due to bleeding, and his health condition remains “critical,” according to the authorities.
Police arrested more than 400 people, most of whom were released on Saturday.
An 18-year-old man remained detained on charges of throwing a distress flare that seriously injured the policeman, and he will appear in court on Thursday on charges of “attempted murder.”
Greek sports have been suffering for years from the scourge of hooliganism, especially during football matches. In a country suffering from an economic crisis, the stands become a scene for venting anger among fans of competing clubs.
Last week, the Football League referees announced their intention to implement a strike “starting from the fourteenth stage,” which begins Saturday, “until the situation returns to normal in order to preserve physical safety.”
In February 2022, a 19-year-old young man was killed in Thessaloniki by unruly fans of the opposing team.
In August 2023, a fan was stabbed to death in the suburbs of Athens during a fight between fans of AEK Athens and its guest, Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia, which prompted the European Football Association (UEFA) to postpone the scheduled match between them in the third preliminary round of the European Champions League football competition.
Due to the violence that dominated football matches, the government decided last year to raise the maximum penalty for fan violence crimes from six months to five years without reducing the violence.