Greek fan stabbed to death, AEK Athens-Dynamo Zagreb match postponed – Liberation

Violent clashes opposed groups of ultras, leaving at least one dead and six injured, on the sidelines of the first leg of the Champions League which was to take place this Tuesday, August 8 in the Nea Filadelfia stadium, in the suburbs of Athens. UEFA announced the postponement of the match.

The brawls got the better of football. UEFA announced this Tuesday afternoon, August 7, the postponement of the match of the third preliminary round of the Champions League which was to oppose this Tuesday evening AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb. The reason: a Greek supporter of football club AEK Athens was stabbed to death overnight from Monday to Tuesday during clashes with supporters of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. Violent scuffles opposed groups of ultras, leaving at least six injured. “Serious incidents took place outside the Nea Filadelfia stadium. A stabbed young Greek man is dead and six other injured people are still in hospital,” Greek police said.

The 22-year-old was taken to an Athens hospital before succumbing to his injuries overnight. Among the injured still hospitalized is a miner injured in the head by a stone throw, said the public television channel ERT.

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 the end of training for Dynamo Zagreb, whose team left the field under police escort, the ministry added. According to the Greek news agency Ana, an investigation has been opened and those arrested will be heard by the prosecutor during the day.

83 arrests

After a night of violence, the Greek police said they had made 83 arrests. According to Ana, about a hundred hooligans from the Croatian club were present in the Greek capital. In a statement released on Tuesday, the management of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb said it “strongly” condemned the clashes between supporters that took place in Athens. “We recall that UEFA has taken the decision, in agreement with the police, that the two matches will be played without visiting club supporters and we invite Dynamo supporters not to travel to attend the match in Greece” , also points out the Croatian club.

Greece’s main left-wing opposition party has strongly criticized the lack of police control over the arrival of hundreds of Croatian hooligans in Greece. “Croatia hooligans — with a long history of far-right ties and violent attacks — crossed the country with one goal: to cause trouble… Were they being watched by the Greek authorities? ? Were there any preventive checks on their route?” asked Syriza on Tuesday.

Something to bring back dark memories. On the night of February 1, 2022, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Alkis Kampanos, a young supporter, was beaten and stabbed to death after a football match between PAOK FC and Aris FC. Last July, seven of the defendants in this case were found guilty of intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison. It was the third death in three years due to fan violence in Thessaloniki alone.

Updated: at 1:30 p.m. with the announcement of the postponement of the match.