August 17 – Independent fan clubs in Greece, the so-called ultras, are to be banned. The decision was announced by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a meeting with UEFA President Alexander Ceferin and the owners of several Greek clubs on Wednesday in Athens.
Mitsotakis (pictured right) added that the fan clubs will be replaced by official associations that will work in the clubs themselves.
The decision comes in the aftermath of last week’s tragedy, when an AEK Athens fan was killed after clashes with Dinamo Zagreb fans ahead of the Champions League third preliminary round match between the two teams.
Mitsotakis said that the police are gaining control of the organised but independent fan groups who cause problems, and that these fan clubs will be closed. He said there will only be one fan association per club, and it will be subject to police oversight.
Mitsotakis warned that as a last measure, clubs could be banned from European competitions. However, he expressed hope that the circumstances will not lead this.
“The perpetrators of what happened in Nea Filadelfeia will be found and punished,” Mitsotakis stressed, referring to the bloody clashes between Dinamo Zagreb and AEK Athens fans outside the Greek capital on August 7, in which a 29-year-old Greek AEK Athens supporter was killed.
“The operational failure must not be repeated,” Mitsotakis continued, referencing the ban Greek authorities had issued on Croatian fans entering the country, but which in the end the police were unable to enforce.
At the same time Ceferin (pictured left) urged European countries to help eliminate hooliganism, calling it “the cancer of football”.
Following the meeting with Mitsotakis in Athens, Ceferin said that the problem was Europe-wide and cooperation was needed to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
“Those are not football fans, this is the cancer of football. We came to a position where we have to say enough is enough! We have to stop this. Violence and hooliganism are not only a Greek problem” Ceferin said, adding European countries, institutions and media had to work together to help end football violence.
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1727105185labto1727105185ofdlr1727105185owedi1727105185sni@o1727105185fni1727105185