The banning of fans from Greek football stadiums is coming to an end. On December 11, after the death of a police officer hit during violence on the sidelines of a volleyball match in Athens, the Greek government decided to impose closed doors during all matches of the Greek championship for two months. . This measure is therefore about to end and the Hellenic leaders have confirmed that they will once again authorize the presence of supporters in the enclosures.
Violence regularly plagues football matches in Greece. “For many years, criminals posing as fans have committed serious crimes, seriously injuring and killing,” denounced Pavlos Marinakis, the government spokesperson. 400 people were also arrested during the violence committed outside the Melina-Merkouri stadium, in Rentis, after the volleyball match.
The return of supporters, which will take effect from February 13, is however subject to certain measures. Football and basketball clubs will thus be required to install surveillance cameras in their premises, as assured by Deputy Minister of Sports Yiannis Vroutsis. April 9 will mark the start of a new rule: the identification of fans via a mobile application. “If there is violence during a match, a committee will impose heavy fines and order clubs to play the next match without fans,” Yiannis Vroutsis also told reporters. Strong but necessary measures to secure sporting events.
