New, strict measures against fan violence were decided at the critical meetings of the Prime Minister, at the Maximos Palace, without missing the equally strict warnings to the teams, after it was emphasized that if they “don’t pick up their… houses” then they will be excluded from the European events.

The Prime Minister’s messages were absolutely clear: No tolerance for violence and the phenomena of inaction, no grace period and no one, uninvolved in the implementation of the law and the promoted measures, since in the depths lurks a heavy trap for the PAEs who will not cooperate in order to “Tighten the cord” around hot-headed fans and criminal elements.

Of the measures announced by the Prime Minister in particular, what stands out is the assumption by the police of the responsibility of entering and identifying organized fans at the gates.

According to information, EL.AS checks will be carried out unannounced in matches where they are deemed necessary.

Criteria for the checks will be the “danger” of causing incidents as well as the “bad past”.

The checks will not take place in every match but will be carried out with an organized and structured operational plan of the Greek police, while no one will be able to know in advance that they will be checking.

According to information, what was communicated to the PAE by the government staff is that there will be determination in the implementation of this measure even in the face of possible reactions that may occur in the future from some who might consider that the organized gates are “untouchable”.

It is worth noting, however, that the aforementioned measure was a standing request of the PAEs themselves.

In any case, a new set of measures is expected within the next few days, which will be announced by the Deputy Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis.

Primarily, these are more technical measures and will probably concern, for example, the display of messages against fan violence in the media, perhaps even in the field of education.

Of course, the “mapping” of fan clubs and associations is a given before the transition to the status of an association based in PAE is made.

The prime minister pointed out that those responsible for the fatal injury of 29-year-old Michalis will be found and punishedstating 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.