Fans banned from matches in Greece for two months

Top-flight football in Greece will be played behind closed doors for the next two months in an effort to clamp down on violence at sporting events.

The Greek government took action after a police officer was severely injured in violent clashes during a volleyball match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos last week.

Both sides are owned by the football teams of the same name.

The measure will be in place until 12 February 2024.

It could also apply to some European home fixtures and may be extended if action is not taken, such as the installation of cameras and systems of electronic identification for fans at the stadiums, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said.

“For years, criminals in the guise of fans have been committing serious crimes by critically injuring and killing [people],” he added.

“Neither athletes nor fans should suffer from the murderous behaviour of criminal gangs.”

Hooliganism has marred Greek football in recent years and last year the government increased the maximum sentence for crimes of fan violence from six months to five years after another fatal stabbing.

Alkis Kampanos, 19, was killed in February 2022 in Thessaloniki during a fight between supporters of the city’s rival clubs Aris and PAOK.

In August this year, a Greek fan was stabbed to death after violent clashes between fans that led to the Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb being abandoned.

And in October, the football derby between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned after a player was struck by a firework.

After that incident, Panathinaikos president Giannis Alafouzos said there was a ‘culture of violence’ in Greek football that the sport is trying to overcome.