Numerous arrests were made and several individuals sustained injuries during intense clashes between rival factions of supporters outside AEK's stadium prior to a Champions League qualifying match.
A Greek soccer enthusiast was fatally stabbed amidst a brawl that erupted between followers of AEK Athens and Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb.
Law enforcement reported the apprehension of nearly 100 individuals following the outbreak of violent confrontations. Consequently, UEFA, the governing body of European football, decided to defer the Champions League qualifying third-round, first-leg fixture between the two teams, which was originally scheduled to take place in Greece's capital on Tuesday.
As per the police report, the altercation erupted over an hour after the conclusion of the visiting team's training session late on Monday. The Dinamo Zagreb team had already left the AEK stadium in the Athens suburb of New Philadelphia under police escort.
Around 100 to 120 Dinamo Zagreb supporters congregated near the stadium, where a gathering of AEK supporters was also present. Fans from both factions engaged in hurling Molotov cocktails and stones.
Greek law enforcement confirmed that the 29-year-old victim, identified solely as Mihalis, was transferred from the stadium to an Athens hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Three Greek and five Croatian fans sustained injuries and were undergoing medical treatment, while 98 individuals were taken into custody by the police.
Among the injured was a minor who was hospitalized due to a head injury caused by a stone, as reported by the public television channel ERT.
UEFA strongly condemned the "shocking incidents" and extended its condolences to the victim's family.
"After the violence that occurred yesterday and following consultations with local authorities, UEFA has determined that the prerequisites for the AEK Athens FC vs. GNK Dinamo match to proceed tonight are not fulfilled," the football governing body announced in a statement on Tuesday.
"Consequently, the match scheduled to take place tonight at Agia Sofia Stadium in Athens has been postponed."
However, UEFA stated that the second leg of the match, scheduled to take place in Zagreb on August 15, will proceed as planned. Meanwhile, an alternative date will be determined for the postponed match, with August 18 or 19 being considered as potential options.
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The Greek news agency ANA reported that an investigation has been initiated, and those who were apprehended will appear before the state prosecutor on Tuesday.
AEK stated in an official announcement that their supporter was fatally attacked by "professional assassins, organized criminals who traveled from Zagreb to New Philadelphia, crossing the country, and teamed up with Greek criminal associates, all with the singular intent of causing his death."
Translation: "Mihalis, AEK will always remember you! Exemplary punishment for the murderers and those accountable!"
The Greek champions called for the culprits to be held accountable and emphasized that it is "undeniable" that the lack of action "significantly contributed to this crime."
As per a previous UEFA ruling, Dinamo fans, known for their unruly behavior, were prohibited from attending matches within stadiums.
Reports from Croatian media indicated that around 200 fans had journeyed to Athens, possibly as tourists, despite the football-related restrictions.
Greece's left-wing opposition party, Syriza, criticized the authorities, asserting that the police failed to effectively manage the Dinamo supporters.
"Syriza" stated, "The Croatian hooligans, with a lengthy history of affiliations with the far-right and involvement in violent attacks, traversed the country with a singular purpose – to cause disruption."
They further inquired, "Were the Greek authorities monitoring them? Were any precautionary measures implemented along their route?"
Dinamo issued a condemnation of the incident, expressing, "Such occurrences run counter to the values and principles that we as a club and community uphold." This statement was published on their website on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the week preceding the UEFA Super Cup game, where Manchester City and Sevilla fans are set to gather in Athens. This traditional season-opening match features the titleholders of the Champions League and the Europa League, and is scheduled to take place in Piraeus, a port city within the Athens metropolitan area.
Violence has marred several past football matches in Greece. In response, the government elevated the maximum penalty for acts of fan violence from six months to five years last year, following a previous stabbing fatality.
In February 2022, Alkis Kampanos, aged 19, lost his life during a clash between supporters of rival clubs Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK in the northern city of Thessaloniki. Last month, seven individuals were found guilty of his murder and handed life sentences, while five others were sentenced to over 19 years in prison for their involvement.
This marked the third instance of a fatality resulting from fan violence within a span of three years in Thessaloniki alone.
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