UEFA had postponed the Champions League qualifier match between Dinamo Zagreb and AEK Athens after a fan was stabbed to death in a clash between the fans.
The Football governing body released a statement after the incident saying, “Following yesterday’s violence and in consultation with the local authorities, UEFA has decided that the conditions for the match between Dinamo Zagreb and AEK Athens to go ahead tonight are not met.”
“The match planned to be played tonight at Agia Sofia Stadium in Athens is hereby postponed”.
However, UEFA claims the second leg between the two clubs will go ahead on August 15, 2023. While the date for the match that was postponed may be August 18 or 19, 2023.
There will likely be additional security measures to protect the players and the fans.
The Police claimed nearly 100 people were arrested after the Violent clashes, mostly Dinamo Zagreb fans.
It was reported that the fight broke out more than an hour after the visiting team’s training season ended late on August 8, 2023, with Dinamo Zagreb being escorted away from the stadium by the Police.
About 100 to 120 Dinamo Zagreb fans showed up in the stadium where the AEK Athens fans were all gathered to support their team.
On seeing themselves, the fans of both teams started throwing stones, cocktails, flares, and petrol bombs.
Three Greek and five Croatian fans were injured and are being treated. One of those injured included a minor who was hit on the head with a stone.
The Greek police claimed the deceased, 29-year-old Mihalis, who got stabbed, was transported from the Stadium where the clash happened to an Athens hospital, where he was announced to have died.
Fans gathered at the site of the dead fan on August 8, 2023, leaving flowers, church candles, and black and yellow AEK soccer scarves.
AEK released a statement saying “the club fan was killed by Professional killers, organized criminals who crossed the country and arrived in New Philadelphia from Zagreb to join forces with Greek criminal accomplices with the sole purpose of killing”.
The Greek Champions demanded that the killers be brought to justice.
Violence had been on a constant basis in Greek football, and the government increased the maximum sentence for crimes of football violence from six months to five years.
Also, Dinamo Zagreb released a statement saying, “Such events are not in line with the values and ethics we promote as a club and community.”
“We express our deep concern over this incident. GNK Dinamo would like to express its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.”
In addition, Seven Greek police officers were suspended pending an internal investigation into the clash.
