The closing of the clubs of the organized fans, but also the overall review of the network of policies to combat sports violence was announced by the prime minister in the joint statements he gave earlier with the president of UEFA, Aleksandar Ceferin.

They were preceded by their private meeting as well as an extended meeting at Megaros Maximos, with the participation of the competent ministers, the owners of PAE Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK as well as a representative of PAE PAOK.

  • Mr. Mitsotakis stated that each team will now have, as the law stipulates, a supporters association based in PAE.
  • He also announced that the entrance to the gates of the organized fans falls under the responsibility of the police, who will be able to carry out, whenever they deem it appropriate, checks in the stadiums.
  • The prime minister warned, in fact, that as a last measure there is also the exclusion of the teams from the European competitions, however expressing the hope that the circumstances will not lead to that.
  • He also announced the creation of a European violence watchdog with the participation of several European states so that UEFA can warn of high-risk events and be strict with those who fall victim to incidents of violence.

The prime minister pointed out that those responsible for the fatal injury of 29-year-old Michalis will be found and they will be punished, stating that dozens of suspects have already been identified.

Mr. Mitsotakis, indirectly commenting on the incendiary statements of the Croatian President, emphasized that “Greece is a state of law. It has rules. The judiciary is independent. Neither the country, nor the Greek judiciary, accepts suggestions from any inappropriate voice outside the borders, even if it it’s official”.

In addition, he recognized the operational failure of the Greek police regarding the organized descent of the Croatian hooligans who were in New Philafelfia last week and created the incidents.

For his part, the president of UEFA used harsh expressions for the hooligans, speaking of them as a “cancer of football” pledging, on the occasion of the murder of Michalis Katsouris, that “we will do everything in our power to prevent something like this from happening again awesome.”

In more detail, the prime minister stated that “neither the tightening of penalties nor the prevention mechanisms always work as they should. Organized associations often do not promote the culture of coexistence. The coexistence of all is required for this and we met today in a broad composition.

The purpose is to activate the anti-violence mechanisms, to organize European cooperation. Sports fans should be fraternized in joy.

We are reviewing the fabric of our policies on violence, where gaps exist and need to be filled.

However, we will not achieve the goal without the activation of the football players. I am referring to the teams and the owners, they are the first ones who have a duty to guard the investments they have made in football, but they also have a duty outside the field to inspire love for the team and not hatred for the opponent.”

It was preceded by an extended meeting at Megaros Maximos with the presidents of PAE Olympiacos, Vangelis Marinakis, Panathinaikos, Yiannis Alafouzos and AEK, Dimitris Melissanidis. The president of PAOK was represented by his close associate, Artur Davidian, as Mr. Ivan Savvidis is abroad.

From the government, the Ministers of State Stavros Papastavrou and Akis Skertsos, the Minister of Citizen Protection Yiannis Oikonomou, the Deputy Minister of Sports Yiannis Vroutsis and the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Yiannis Bratakos, participated.

Also participating from UEFA’s side was Zoran Lakovic, responsible for national championships.

According to information, the discussion with the PAE presidents was honest and constructive, while there was a unanimous condemnation of the violence by all four representatives.