Angeloudi’s letter to Ceferin: “Our priority is the safety of Club Brugge fans”

Next Thursday, Thessaloniki will host the PAOK-Club Brugge rematch, for the quarter-final phase of the Europa Conference League.

In our city we are getting ready for a big celebration, we have another opportunity to showcase the unique features that highlight Thessaloniki as a welcoming destination.

Unfortunately the testimonies of our residents who traveled to Brugge for the first match are snowballing, accompanied by convincing videos and evidence of widespread and excessive use of force by the Belgian police.

The Belgian authorities did not have time early on to prevent those who tried to enter the stadium without a ticket (which was also their main mission) and in retaliation they attacked family heads, members of the Greek Parliament, but also of the Thessaloniki Municipal Council, arresting and leaving out match people who had every legal right to enter the stadium.

The safety of Club Brugge fans visiting our city is an absolute priority. Our concern is to defuse and solve problems, rather than create bigger ones.

However, we would like to draw your attention, to request and evaluate carefully the complaints of PAOK fans, because football is an opportunity to celebrate and share experiences.

We consider it self-evident that you will do the right thing in order to be held accountable for what took place in Belgium, at the expense of PAOK fans.

Yours sincerely,

Stelios Angeloudis