Fan Fatally Stabbed in Brawl Ahead of AEK Athens-Dinamo Zagreb Match
A tragic incident occurred on Monday night in the Athens suburb of Nea Filadelfeia, where a brawl between supporters of Greek club AEK Athens and Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb took a deadly turn. A fan lost his life due to stab wounds, and Greek police reported making nearly 100 arrests in connection with the incident, as reported by CNN.
The confrontation between the two groups was grim enough to force the postponement of the scheduled Champions League qualifying match between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb at AEK’s OPAP Arena. The winner of this match would have gone on to face Belgian club Royal Antwerp in the forthcoming group stage of the Champions League.
Initially, the first leg of the fixture was set to take place on Tuesday, followed by the second leg on August 15. However, the matches were rescheduled due to the unfortunate circumstances, and the second leg will now be played on August 19. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated that no away fans would be allowed to attend these matches, in a bid to prevent further incidents of violence, according to Al Jazeera.
The brawl erupted after a group of 100 to 120 Dinamo Zagreb fans gathered near AEK’s stadium, shortly after the visiting team had left. They encountered AEK supporters, resulting in both sides engaging in a clash involving molotov cocktails, stones, and wooden bats. The victim, identified only as Mihalis, a 29-year-old, was fatally wounded and transported to a hospital in Athens, where he succumbed to his injuries. Eight others were injured in the violent altercation.
As a mark of respect, individuals gathered at the location where the fan lost his life, leaving flowers, church candles, and scarves bearing the AEK logo as a shrine by the roadside. Several AEK players also paid their respects during their visit to the site.
In response to the incident, UEFA expressed their deep sympathies to the victim’s family and AEK Athens FC, while strongly condemning the violence. They emphasized that such acts have no place in the sport and urged for the prompt arrest and prosecution of those responsible. The organization vowed to work towards preventing future acts of aggression during football matches.
The aftermath of this tragic incident continues to unfold, with seven Greek police officers suspended pending an internal investigation into their role in the events that transpired, according to the Associated Press.
This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining peace and sportsmanship during football matches. It is crucial that fans, clubs, and authorities work together towards fostering a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants and spectators alike.
