Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb has been postponed after a fan was stabbed to loss of life within the Greek capital.
The Greek supporter, 29, died following brawls between rival followers exterior AEK’s Agia Sophia Stadium in a northern suburb of Athens on Monday night.
Police stated eight others have been injured and 98 arrests have been made.
Uefa had banned visiting supporters from each legs of the third-round qualifying tie over safety issues.
European soccer’s governing physique stated that the difficulty meant the match needed to be postponed, with the choice made in session with the native authorities.
“Uefa deplores within the strongest attainable phrases the appalling incidents that came about in Athens final evening and resulted within the lack of a life,” Uefa stated.
“Whereas expressing our deepest sympathy to the household of the sufferer, to AEK Athens FC and its followers, we want to reiterate that violence has no place in our sport and we anticipate that these accountable for this horrible act be arrested and consigned to justice within the shortest delay.”
The return leg in Croatia will go forward as deliberate subsequent Tuesday,15 August with the sport in Athens to be rearranged for both Friday, 18 August or Saturday, 19 August.Greek police stated the difficulty began 90 minutes after Croatian facet Dinamo had accomplished a pre-match coaching session on the stadium in Nea Philadelphia and left below police escort.
Between 100-120 Dinamo followers confirmed as much as the stadium and clashed with AEK followers who had gathered there.
Followers from each side “threw flares, improvised incendiary gadgets, objects, stones, and likewise used improvised bats”.
Police stated a preliminary investigation had began and so they have been attempting to determine the perpetrators.
“GNK Dinamo strongly condemns the riots that came about final evening in Athens,” a Dinamo Zagreb assertion stated.
“Such occasions will not be consistent with the values and ethics we promote as a membership and group.
“We specific our deep concern over this incident. GNK Dinamo want to specific its honest condolences to the household of the deceased.”
Hooliganism has marred Greek soccer lately and final 12 months the federal government elevated the utmost sentence for crimes of fan violence from six months to 5 years after one other deadly stabbing.
Alkis Kampanos, 19, was killed in February 2022 in Thessaloniki throughout a struggle between supporters of town’s rival golf equipment Aris and PAOK.
Final month, seven defendants have been discovered responsible of his homicide and sentenced to life in jail. 5 others obtained sentences of greater than 19 years for complicity.