In newest crackdown on violence, Greece bans followers in any respect top-flight matches for 2 months

ATHENS, Greece — All top-flight soccer matches in Greece will likely be performed with out followers within the stadiums for the subsequent two months, within the newest crackdown on supporter violence following a sport-related riot final week that left a police officer with life-threatening accidents.

The authorities mentioned Monday that it could introduce emergency laws to make the ban on supporters efficient instantly. It will finish on Feb. 12 with a doable extension to observe.

This previous weekend’s skilled soccer matches had been postponed following a sequence of violent incidents at matches and final week’s riot that occurred outdoors a volleyball recreation believed to be led by organized soccer fan teams.

The 31-year-old police officer who was injured within the clashes stays hospitalized in a coma after being hit within the left leg by a flare, inflicting in depth 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,” authorities spokesman Pavlos Marinakis informed reporters.

He mentioned all 14 golf equipment competing within the top-flight Super League must set up surveillance cameras inside stadiums and use personalised ticketing programs that require the holder to indicate identification upon entry earlier than being allowed to confess supporters.

The safety programs, together with a community of high-resolution surveillance cameras inside stadiums, must adhere to requirements set by soccer’s governing physique in Europe, UEFA, Marinakis mentioned.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and brought into police custody in reference to the police officer’s damage to face fees of tried homicide. The man, who has not been recognized, appeared at an arraignment listening to Monday after being escorted to courtroom in handcuffs by police. He was given till Thursday to organize his protection.

Violence has plagued Greek soccer for many years regardless of repeated efforts to crack down on the supporters’ associations blamed for the assaults, principally outdoors stadiums.

Olympiakos, underneath new Portuguese head coach Carlos Carvalhal, will face Serbia’s Backa Topola within the Europa League at dwelling Thursday with out followers because of the choice.

But Greek golf equipment Panathinaikos and PAOK will conclude their European matches with followers. Panathinaikos hosts Maccabi Haifa in Athens Thursday within the Europa League and PAOK hosts HJK Helsinki within the Conference League additionally on Thursday in Thessaloniki.