Current:Home > FinanceIn latest crackdown on violence, Greece bans fans at all top-flight matches for two months-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
In latest crackdown on violence, Greece bans fans at all top-flight matches for two months
View Date:2024-12-24 09:57:16
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — All top-flight soccer matches in Greece will be played without fans in the stadiums for the next two months, in the latest crackdown on supporter violence following a sport-related riot last week that left a police officer with life-threatening injuries.
The government said Monday that it would introduce emergency legislation to make the ban on supporters effective immediately. It will end on Feb. 12 with a possible extension to follow.
This past weekend’s professional soccer matches were postponed following a series of violent incidents at matches and last week’s riot that occurred outside a volleyball game believed to be led by organized soccer fan groups.
The 31-year-old police officer who was injured in the clashes remains hospitalized in a coma after being hit in the left leg by a flare, causing extensive 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,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told reporters.
He said all 14 clubs competing in the top-flight Super League will have to install surveillance cameras inside stadiums and use personalized ticketing systems that require the holder to show identification upon entry before being allowed to admit supporters.
The security systems, including a network of high-resolution surveillance cameras inside stadiums, would have to adhere to standards set by soccer’s governing body in Europe, UEFA, Marinakis said.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested and taken into police custody in connection with the police officer’s injury to face charges of attempted murder. The man, who has not been identified, appeared at an arraignment hearing Monday after being escorted to court in handcuffs by police. He was given until Thursday to prepare his defense.
Violence has plagued Greek soccer for decades despite repeated efforts to crack down on the supporters’ associations blamed for the attacks, mostly outside stadiums.
Olympiakos, under new Portuguese head coach Carlos Carvalhal, will face Serbia’s Backa Topola in the Europa League at home Thursday without fans as a result of the decision.
But Greek clubs Panathinaikos and PAOK will conclude their European matches with fans. Panathinaikos hosts Maccabi Haifa in Athens Thursday in the Europa League and PAOK hosts HJK Helsinki in the Conference League also on Thursday in Thessaloniki.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
veryGood! (169)
Related
- New Mexico secretary of state says she’s experiencing harassment after the election
- School vaccination exemptions now highest on record among kindergartners, CDC reports
- 2023 is virtually certain to be the warmest year ever recorded, climate agency says
- Black riverboat co-captain faces assault complaint filed by white boater in Alabama dock brawl
- GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
- The Eras Tour returns: See the new surprise songs Taylor Swift played in Argentina
- Feeling crowded yet? The Census Bureau estimates the world’s population has passed 8 billion
- AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa
- Florida man’s US charges upgraded to killing his estranged wife in Spain
- Tuohy family paid Michael Oher $138,000 from proceeds of 'The Blind Side' movie, filing shows
Ranking
- Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
- Blinken says ‘far too many’ Palestinians have died as Israel wages relentless war on Hamas
- Donald Trump Jr. to be defense's first witness in New York fraud trial
- 'The Holdovers' with Paul Giamatti shows the 'dark side' of Christmas
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- Tensions between Dominican Republic and Haiti flare after a brief armed standoff at the border
- Nevada men's basketball coach Steve Alford hates arena bats, Wolf Pack players embrace them
- Daily room cleanings underscores Las Vegas hotel workers contract fight for job safety and security
Recommendation
-
Judge extends the time to indict the driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau and his brother
-
Why Whitney Port Is in a Better Place Amid Health Struggles
-
Keke Palmer Files for Custody of Her and Darius Jackson's Baby Boy
-
British judge says Prince Harry’s lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher can go to trial
-
Patricia Heaton criticizes media, 'extremists' she says 'fear-mongered' in 2024 election
-
Stock market today: Asian shares fall after bond market stress hits Wall Street
-
'The Killer' review: Michael Fassbender is a flawed hitman in David Fincher's fun Netflix film
-
British judge says Prince Harry’s lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher can go to trial