It was another win for Olympiacos in Nea Filadelfeia as they defeated AEK 0-2 in the 4th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League Playoffs The Greek champions made the most of the chances they created away from home and once again secured all three points The goals for the Legend were scored by Velde and Yaremchuk in the 43rd and 74th minutes OLYMPIACOS (Jose Luis Mendilibar): Tzolakis This marks the second consecutive win for Olympiacos over AEK within a week The reigning UEFA Europa Conference League champion defeated AEK in Nea Filadelfeia in the league’s MD25 with a 0-1 scoreline playing at this stadium for the first time since last season’s final against Fiorentina The “Reds” were superior to their opponent and managed to claim all three points in the final minutes of the match extending their lead over second-placed AEK to five points The winning goal was scored by Chiquinho in the 90th minute AEK earned a much-needed consolation victory against rivals Olympiacos in the second leg of the Greek Cup semi-finals while OFI has secured a berth in the Final for the first time in 35 years Enosi restored some pride with a 2-0 home victory over the Piraeus giants on Thursday morning (AEDT) though they ultimately lost the tie 6-2 on aggregate The hosts opened the scoring in the 37th minute when a ball from winger Aboubakary Koita led to centre half David Carmo unintentionally knocking the ball into his own net AEK then doubled their lead in the 77th minute thanks to an excellent free kick strike from veteran playmaker Petros Mantalos The result did very little for Enosi in terms of the Cup given the 6-0 drubbing in the first leg sealed their fate even before the first whistle at “Agia Sophia” Stadium though it is an important confidence boost they can use ahead of the remaining play-offs games AEK is locked in a battle with Panathinaikos and PAOK for second place with the successful club to earn the Champions League qualifying round spot that comes with it The Cup victory serves as a good launching pad for the Double-headed eagle of the South as they set their sights on sealing second OFI played out a 1-1 home draw with Asteras Tripolis to win 2-1 on aggregate and qualify for the first time since 1990 to the Greek Cup Final The Arcadians were first to score as they equalised the tie in the tenth minute via Miki Munoz bringing the visitors firmly back in contention for the Final The Cretans took back control of the tie in the 78th minute when defender Jordan Silva headed home a ball by Borja Gonzalez There was some late chaos after OFI goalkeeper Nikos Christogeorgos received a straight red in the 90+9th minute with midfielder Marko Bakic filling in between the sticks for the final minutes and even producing a save to protect their lead on aggregate OFI celebrated the progression into the Cup Final immensely the first time they have made it that far since 1990 when they also faced Olympiacos in a 4-2 loss The Cretans will hope to do better this time around and add a second Cup to their trophy cabinet Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The 2024 Uefa Europa Conference League final between Olympiacos and Fiorentina will be held at the Agia Sophia Stadium the stadium was opened in September 2022 and has a capacity of 32,500 Olympiacos secured a 0-1 win in Nea Filadelfeia head coach José Luis Mendilibar emphasized that there are still many games left before the season concludes below follow words from the experienced coach: hooligans associated with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb who are accused of the deadly incident in Nea Filadelfeia have links to organized fans from Ukraine and Greece An in-depth investigation conducted by iMEdD delved into numerous public channels and social media profiles to uncover the connections between organized fans from Croatia as well as their affiliations with far-right ideologies The research has shed light on how the Telegram platform serves as a catalyst for networking among these groups potentially playing a role in recruiting new members for the far-right hooligan movement we understood how our opponents think” – a video that endures till this day marked the onset of a new more aggressive era of hooliganism in Greece of which 102 were Croatian members of the Bad Blue Boys Brentin further elaborates that these connections between groups of fervent fans often referred to as “twinning” in fan parlance can emerge from shared jersey colours or even something as simple as a shared night out may also be rooted in shared political stances among fans In addition to their ties with a segment of Panathinaikos fans the BBB also seem to have close associations with fans of the Ukrainian football team Dinamo Kiev These fans have openly expressed their support and solidarity with the Croatian ultras arrested in connection with the events in Nea Filadelfeia conducts research aimed at preventing and countering far-right networks Telegram provides a “relatively safe space” for its users owing to its minimal content control practices this characteristic can also make the platform attractive to extreme and violent groups Through an extensive examination of more than twenty public Telegram channels and dozens of other social media profiles following the events of August 7 iMEdD has brought to light the intricate network of connections that exist between organised fan groups and hooligans “AEK is well-known for its leftist views (…) That’s why we are not ‘mourning’ in any way We will have a lot of work ahead of us in Europe after the war.” This message posted on August 8 by a Telegram channel affiliated with fans of the Ukrainian football team Dinamo Kyiv reflects on the occurrences in Nea Filadelfeia The channel is linked to the Ukrainian hooligan group “ALBATROSS” which lends support to and advocates for organised fan groups engaged in the Ukrainian front amidst the Russian invasion of the country the same page shared a photo displaying military shells with the inscriptions “FREE BBB” and “From trenches to Athens respect and pride.” The accompanying description stated we were apprehended during an unsuccessful attempt to attend an away game in Poland observing Dinamo Zagreb’s victory over the leftist scum on their home turf (editor’s note: referring to the events in Nea Filadelfeia) and we are committed to standing with them our actions in Europe are assured.” In a similar post on March 18 they celebrated the 37th anniversary of the Croatian Bad Blue Boys portraying them as “the best of friends who assisted the Ukrainian nation during challenging times.” the participation of the White Boys Club in a tactical military training seminar which included instruction in knife fighting Robert Claus is a researcher delving into the intersection of fan culture and politics he discusses the pivotal role of social media as indispensable networking tools for far-right hooligan groups throughout Europe represented by both “ALBATROSS” and “WBC,” are no exception: Their Telegram posts have since expressed support and solidarity for the detained Croatian members of the Bad Blue Boys evidence of their connections emerges from posts in international far-right public Telegram channels which also stand in solidarity with the fans of Dinamo Zagreb In fact, the amicable relations and networking between the BBB and fans of Dinamo Kyiv and Panathinaikos are also confirmed by a document issued by the Hellenic Police (ELAS) ELAS had been aware of the potential presence of Croats in Greece since August 4 The document also notes that during a previous away game of Dinamo Zagreb in 2019 a Croatian team’s fan made a Nazi salute “Several right-wing extremists have either been or continue to be hooligans The common thread linking these two communities is violence organised fan groups can serve as recruitment pools for far-right groups,” says Alexander Ritzmann of the Counter Extremism Project to iMEdD Platforms like Telegram can exacerbate this issue “Certain ultras groups and hooligans function as hubs frequently sharing (editor’s note: on Telegram) content originating from far-right groups thus aiding in potential recruitment,” he adds there are three primary Telegram channels for far-right hooligans in Europe each boasting hundreds of thousands of followers iMEdD conducted research on these channels and discovered that all three have shared actions by the Bad Blue Boys with many of the posts also emphasising the political views of the Croatian fans two of these three channels have also disseminated content regarding the events in Nea Filadelfeia showing support for the detained Dinamo Zagreb fans Several right-wing extremists have either been or continue to be hooligans organised fan groups can serve as recruitment pools for far-right groups The “mythology” surrounding organised fans suggests that the connections between Panathinaikos and Dinamo Zagreb fans date back a few years when they were in Italy to attend a football match hosted by Roma with whom both sets of fans share friendly relations Upon investigating open Instagram profiles associated with the sphere of organised Dinamo Zagreb fans iMEdD substantiates the connection between Greek and Croatian fans This symbol is utilised by several far-right and neo-Nazi organisations across Europe and the United States the backing for the Croatian involved in the Nea Filadelfeia clashes exhibits distinct political undertones identifying themselves as national socialists and belonging to the “autonomous nationalists,” have also expressed support for the detained Bad Blue Boys characterising their situation as “political persecution,” and sharing messages of solidarity on Telegram channels and other platforms We’ve directed inquiries to the Cybercrime Division and the Sub-Directorate for Countering Violence in Sports Venues of the Greek Police both concerning these groups and their online activities and regarding the potential existence of far-right groups within the organised Panathinaikos fan community who works on the nexus of football and politics in the Balkans pinpointing a single political ideology as the pivotal element of the Bad Blue Boys’ identity isn’t straightforward with an openness to fascist and xenophobic ideas although these factors do not exclusively define their identity.” although these factors do not exclusively define their identity The numerous Telegram channels collectively form a community a network that can function as a digital “backdrop” that becomes evident in incidents like the one in Nea Filadelfeia It facilitates communication among violent and extreme groups and serves as a safe haven for them to boast about their violent actions afterward what sets Telegram apart from other platforms and social media is its absence of algorithmic amplification and content promotion This characteristic positions Telegram as a tool for more “internal propaganda and content distribution” within the confines of the far-right community’s members Robert Claus highlights violence as the main factor in the communication of these groups which is achieved through platforms such as Telegram “Violence is a means of communication for these groups It’s a way to acknowledge their masculinity a way to pride themselves and show how strong and violent they are.” According to him this communication mechanism can lead to a competition between hooligan groups – a competition over who is the most violent in real life this competition can lead to a continuous pursuit of increasingly violent incidents all with the goal of presenting each hooligan group as more robust and dedicated to their beliefs and ideology than the others “These groups (editor’s note: referring to hooligan groups) engage in a contest to determine who is the most formidable and adept at violent acts The real-world violence and the violence that unfolds on social media are closely intertwined,” Claus further adds It’s possible that the Croatian hooligans who travelled to Greece for the match against AEK viewed it as a challenge and an opportunity to demonstrate the resilience of their fanbase For a group of at least a hundred fans to successfully navigate through four different countries without interference and to confront a rival group of fans outside their home stadium is highly regarded as a significant ‘badge of honor’ in the hardcore hooligan world This is especially true when the rival team is perceived as ideologically antagonistic iMEdD is a non-profit organization in an effort to enhance transparency founded in 2018 with the exclusive donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death during a brawl between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb fans ahead of their Champions League qualifier A Greek football fan has died and six others were left injured after rival supporters of AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb clashed ahead of the Champions League third-qualifying round match between the two clubs on Monday night Times of Malta reports that a 22-year-old man was taken from the Nea Filadelfeia stadium Violent clashes broke out between the two sets of fans ahead of the Champions League match which had been due to take place on Tuesday night and police added that 83 people were arrested after the incident Greek police said: "A serious incident took place outside the Nea Filadelfeia stadium A young Greek man was stabbed to death and six other injured people are in hospital."  "While expressing our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim we would like to reiterate that violence has no place in our sport and we expect that those responsible for this terrible act be arrested and consigned to justice in the shortest delay." Dinamo Zagreb have added in their own official statement: "GNK Dinamo strongly condemns the riots that took place last night in Athens according to the reports of the Greek police and Greek and Croatian media rioters from Croatia were involved in an incident with fans of the Greek football club AEK "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 we remind and invite all Dinamo fans not to travel to the match in Greece decided that both matches will be played without visiting fans GNK Dinamo remains committed to creating an environment in which love for sport is expressed in a positive way the Greek government increased the maximum sentence for crimes of fan violence from six months to five years after another stabbing death at a football match was killed in February 2022 during a fight between Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK fans seven defendants were found guilty of his murder and sentenced to life imprisonment and five others received sentences of more than 19 years for complicity This was the third death as a result of fan violence in a three-year period in Thessaloniki alone From 19th century London to the former Yugoslavia of the 1950s and Eastern Ukraine in 2024 the words “hooligan” and “ultras” remain constant fixtures in the news We spoke with journalist and author James Montague about the history and culture of the fans movement and its contemporary forms and expressions I’m in Belgrade for the West Ham game That was one of the first messages exchanged via X (formerly Twitter) with British writer and journalist James Montague he now resides in Istanbul and is considered one of the foremost experts on football history and fan culture He has covered these topics for media outlets such as the New York Times In one of them, titled 1312 Among the Ultras: A journey with the world’s most extreme fans he recounts his firsthand observations and experiences both on and off the field with fans from diverse teams across 15 countries while he also outlines the intricate connections between football The interview didn’t take place immediately after his trip to Belgrade, but rather a few days later, via Zoom, as part of iMEdD’s investigation into fan violence, featured in the audio documentary “Hooligan Express.” During our discussion we explored the origins of terms like “ultras” and “hooligans,” the interplay between the fan movement and politics so called “twinnings” are connected not only to violent incidents like the one in Nea Filadelfeia last August but also with geopolitical developments across the Old Continent Reports suggest that the term “hooligan” originated in the late 19th century initially referring to a family of Irish immigrants in London featured in comic books of the era to describe violent football fans known for inciting riots and clashes with both rival supporters and law enforcement The term “ultras,” on the other hand notably in the Croatian town of Split on the Adriatic coast Croatian footballers who participated in the 1950 World Cup as part of the Yugoslav national team encountered the ultras culture on the pitches in Brazil they recounted their experiences to friends thus introducing the ultras model to the other side of the Atlantic The Brazilian version of fervent supporters was termed “Torcida,” a name that persists to this day for the hardcore fans of Hajduk Split The distinct origins of these two concepts also signify a substantial difference between them This was among the first things Montague emphasised during our conversation: “A lot of people confuse ultras with hooligans when they are two completely different concepts.” According to Montague ultras culture revolves around fervent support for the team and going above and beyond to demonstrate it “Violence is certainly a part of that culture and it’s often not the primary motivation behind what we witness unfolding on football pitches,” he explains Violence is certainly a part of that culture and it’s often not the primary motivation behind what we witness unfolding on football pitches The manner in which this violence manifests itself is a compelling aspect of contemporary fan culture in itself “One of the most interesting aspects of football-related violence over the past 15 to 20 years is the fact that violence is no longer part of the match day experience but has moved to another realm – that of arranged organised fighting – which can take place far away from the stadium disused factories or similar locations.” The transition of violence away from the pitch is also crucial in molding the ultras culture and distinguishing it from what we commonly identify as hooliganism “Ultras culture has become less violent much like the match day experience on the pitch violence tends to occur among individuals seeking confrontation with one another away from the scrutiny of law enforcement or other civilians.” One arena where the persistence of violence within ultras culture has become glaringly evident in recent years is the war in Ukraine the violence not only shifted away from the football field but escalated to an entirely different level: armed conflict on the front lines of war one of the lesser-known aspects of this conflict is that it’s essentially a war involving ultras there are battalions and units on both sides of the border founded by and comprised entirely of ultras and hooligans “The Azov Brigade was established by individuals from Ukraine’s organised fan community the Española Brigade brings together supporters and hooligans from various football clubs in Russia.“ They find themselves on the side that their teams are friendly with or have animosity towards This aspect of war is also connected to another characteristic of ultras culture – that of the so-called “twinnings” Alongside joint actions during away matches as exemplified by the incident in Nea Filadelfeia involving fans of Dinamo Zagreb and Panathinaikos allied ultras also appear to collaborate during times of war both sides reportedly attract fans from other countries: “Serbian ultras align with the Russians This means that Croatian ultras stand with Ukrainians This is something that has brought fans of Dynamo Kyiv and Dinamo Zagreb closer,” says Montague The “international relations” of ultras and their political ramifications have shifted from the stadium to the front lines of war It’s truly remarkable when you consider it,” adds the British journalist and author Montague argues that stadiums serve as a mirror that reflects social discontent particularly among the lower social strata He suggests that politics is an inherent component of football: “Attempting to separate politics from football is akin to attempting to separate politics from art or politics from politics itself.” In our interview he stressed that what sustains politics in football thereby rendering it a vibrant social phenomenon is the ultras: “Remove the ultras from football and you’re left with something that is not football anymore.” politics in football is also intertwined with another aspect football has progressively transitioned into a professionalised industry worldwide Clubs have turned into faceless corporations and the fan-consumer model has been promoted As sociology professor Yiannis Zaimakis states in his article titled “The Political Economy of Football in Late Modernity,” this model “has weaker ties with the club and its locality and greater flexibility in its football choices.” In the same article Zaimakis also notes that the emergence of televised match coverage played a significant role in the commercialisation of the sport transforming football into a spectacle and footballers into celebrities As the sociology professor points out: (the commercialisation of football) “Ushered in the shift from passion to consumption.” Attempting to separate politics from football is akin to attempting to separate politics from art or politics from politics itself (football) has become a form of entertainment This renders football somewhat sterile,” Montague tells iMEdD when discussing the commercialisation trends in the sport “While it does create a valuable product making it impossible for individuals from middle or lower social classes to attend matches “The Premier League product doesn’t actually rely on fans to maintain that illusion of an electrifying atmosphere – which serves as a substitute for what it once was – but The people attending stadiums today are much wealthier than before,” he concludes Listen to the three episodes of the audio documentary “Hooligan Express – A journey into the unknown world of ultras” here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Panathinaikos and AEK are set for a critical clash that could deeply impact the race for second as each side endeavours to push their case for the final Champions League qualifying spot The Greens host Enosi at the Olympic Stadium on Monday morning (Australian time) in the second matchday of the Greek Super League’s play-offs/play-outs each club is now all in on securing second which also grants entry into the Champions League qualifiers Panathinaikos currently stands three points off AEK meaning victory is a must in order to close the gap and strengthen their ambitions of seizing second from them has the chance to extend their lead over the “Trifylli” to six points which would put them well in front with only four other games to play will do their best to keep up as they prepare for a massive match against Olympiacos at “Toumba” ground The Piraeus giants are so ahead of the other three clubs that they have a chance of mathematically guaranteeing the title if they beat PAOK and AEK loses to Panathinaikos The Thessaloniki outfit will be desperate to stop the “red-whites” from having any chance of celebrating a league win at their home ground Aris battles OFI at home on Sunday morning in the fifth-eighth play-offs with the “yellow-blacks” looking to build on their lead in fifth spot The Cretans come into the game on a high after making it to the Greek Cup Final though their midweek game also leaves them more fatigued than Aris which gives the hosts another edge Atromitos takes on Asteras Tripolis on Tuesday morning in the other fixture of this group with the Peristeriotes seeking to making it two wins in a row and further stake their claim to topple Aris The second round of the relegation play-outs kicks off with Levadiakos hosting Panserraikos on Sunday morning The “blue-greens” are looking to continue their strong form (ten points from their last five outings) as they continue to push for ninth spot Lamia is all set for an epic battle with Kallithea at home in what truly feels like a do-or-die moment for their season The Fthiotida side sits seven points away from safety a massive hurdle that requires them to score multiple wins to overturn represents a side Lamia must defeat to have any chance of survival it is the exact same scenario but in reverse wherein they too must score a victory to improve their chances of survival the team just above them in the safe 12th position will keep a close eye on the outcome of that clash though their main priority will be downing Panetolikos at home on Monday morning The Magnesia outfit will take confidence in the fact that victory would guarantee they remain outside the relegation zone for another week They also face Panetolikos at a good time with the Agrinio side despite being first in the relegation group on a terrible run of form (three losses and a draw from their last four games) Greek Super League Play-offs/Play-outs Round 2 fixtures (AEDT) With the commanding 6-0 victory from the first leg at “G Olympiacos faced AEK in the return match at Nea Filadelfeia they advanced to the final with an overall score of 6-2 the “Red-and-whites” will go up against OFI Olympiacos will be aiming for a domestic double in a season that marks the club’s 100th anniversary The hosts took the lead in 37’ following an own goal by Carmo while the final 2-0 score was sealed in 77’ with a direct free kick from Mantalos OLYMPIACOS (Jose Luis Mendilibar): Paschalakis More than 100 people are due to appear before a Greek prosecutor on Wednesday in connection with a deadly brawl before a Champions League qualifier near Athens this week A 29-year-old Greek man was stabbed and died in hospital after fans of AEK Athens and Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb clashed on Monday ahead of their teams' third-round qualifying match at the Nea Filadelfeia stadium They are due to appear before the Athens prosecutor spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou told AFP She added that most of the suspects were under 30 years old and included five men who were detained on Tuesday at the port of Igoumenitsa as they tried to flee to Italy Greece's Ministry for citizen protection said fans threw stun grenades incendiary devices and other items near the stadium on the outskirts of the Greek capital.  Some were carrying bats and around 120 Dinamo Zagreb supporters were involved alongside Greek fans Eight people were injured in addition to the single fatality European football's governing body UEFA condemned "in the strongest possible terms the appalling incidents" and postponed the match scheduled for Tuesday with August 18 or 19 the suggested new dates Violence has marred a number of football matches in Greece.  the government increased the maximum sentence for fan violence from six months to five years please register for free or log in to your account we return to normalcy with God’s help.” The Church is now adapting as much as possible in order to protect public health and people’s health We will adopt and follow all the necessary measures based on the instructions of the National Public Health Organization (EODY) so that our faithful can adapt to the churches,” stressed the Metropolitan “the Church cooperated with the Greek State The Metropolitan also said that one of the measures to be taken in the churches provided that more services would be held so that on Sunday the faithful could be divided into smaller groups Metropolitan Gabriel pointed out: “The Church always calls on people to come and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord It is not peremptory for every believer who will be at the church Whoever believes will receive the Holy Communion whoever does not believe and has any doubt it is good that this faithful should not receive it Church exerts no pressure on nobody.” the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website Antenna Pacific will broadcast 25 top games live and exclusively in Australia Olympiacos will face Volos away on Sunday at 2:30am (AEST) while at their new stadium in Nea Filadelfeia AEK will host Panathinaikos in the league’s top team derby which kicks off Monday at 6:30am (AEST) One of the most exciting seasons in recent years is entering its critical stage with the start of the league’s playoffs and playouts Olympiacos and PAOK are competing for a top spot in the playoffs to secure 1st place in the Super League The “greens” will begin this mini league consisting of 10 matchdays from a leader’s advantage with 61 points hoping to accompany the first season in their new stadium with a title After their big away win in the last regular season matchday Olympiacos has neared closer to the top two spots with 56 points and only five points behind in the standings counting their chances in being crowned champions if they can only come away with a few positive results from the league leaders will be giving it their all in the fight for a 5th place finish which will likely provide a ticket for European soccer next season Undoubtable will also be the fight in the playouts will go head to head for a 12th place finish to secure their stay in the Super League AEK and Volos home matches for the playoffs Antenna Pacific will air a total of 25 top fixtures until the end of the season The start to these two mini leagues for the playoffs (10 matchdays) and playouts (7 matchdays) Olympiacos is away to the always spirited Volos this Sunday at 2:30am AEK welcomes Panathinaikos in the leaders’ derby with a kickoff time at 6:30am Lamia welcomes PAS Giannina in their first final of the relegation fight All three matches will be broadcast live and exclusively on Antenna Pacific Gate ANT1 Live with Manolis Manis will review the games and give the opportunity to Greeks abroad to call in and have their say To watch the matches subscribe to Antenna Pacific in Australia through Foxtel or MySat Greek police were accused Wednesday of having ignored warnings about a convoy of Croatian football “hooligans” heading for Athens days before a Greek supporter was killed in clashes between fans More than 100 people appeared before Greek prosecutors Wednesday in connection with a deadly mass brawl near Athens before Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb The match was called off after a 29-year-old Greek fan Michalis Katsouris died after being stabbed in clashes between rival fans near AEK’s Nea Filadelfeia stadium in which stun grenades possession of explosives and membership of a criminal organisation Anger at the killing has been sharpened by claims that Greek police did not stop a large group of Croatian “ultras” after being warned by Zagreb that they were on their way they also warned Greek police that 120 Croatian fans in 21 vehicles were heading for Athens through Albania Greece’s citizen’s protection minister Yannis Oikonomou said it was “inadmissible and unacceptable” that the convoy had been allowed to cross the country unchallenged and demanded that seven officers including the head of the police division against violence in sport should be transferred to other positions He has also ordered an internal inquiry as prosecutors decide whether any of the officers should be charged Greek media reacted angrily to the revelations with the Kathimerini daily lashing the “inertia of Greek police” that left Athens “without protection from the battalion of terror” The financial daily Naftemporiki said “hooliganism had triumphed over the state” after “the commando raid of Croat and Greek assassins” Five men were detained at the port of Igoumenitsa more than 470 kilometres (290 miles) northwest of Athens Police said around 120 Dinamo Zagreb supporters were involved in the fighting in which eight supporters were also injured Social media footage showed fans dressed in black clashing amid loud explosions around the stadium after a Dinamo training session inside Greece has a chronic problem with football violence After a similar outcry following the death of a 19-year-old murdered in a fight between fans of the rival Thessaloniki clubs Aris and PAOK the government increased the maximum sentence for football violence from six months to five years last year Croatia’s interior ministry said it had sent the Greek police “all the interesting information on the supporters likely to go to Greece” through Europol and Interpol European football’s governing body UEFA condemned “the appalling incidents in the strongest possible terms” and postponed the match until August 19 the return match in Zagreb will go ahead on August 15 as planned although the fans of both clubs have been banned from traveling to the away legs 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Gambleaware.org A 22-year-old football supporter has been killed following an altercation between two sets of rival fans in Athens, Greece. The AEK Athens supporter was caught up in a night of chaos between fans of the Greek side and fans of Dinamo Zagreb ahead of the planned Champions League qualifying match between the two sides eight other people were seriously injured in the conflict and 98 people have been arrested by Greek police The fighting between both sets of supporters reportedly broke out around an hour after Dinamo Zagreb had completed a pre-match training session at AEK Athens' stadium stones and other makeshift explosives were reportedly thrown by both groups of supports before a 22-year-old Greek man was stabbed multiple times The police said that he died in hospital after being transported there following the altercation “A serious incident took place outside the Nea Filadelfeia stadium A young Greek man was stabbed to death and six other injured people are in hospital In light of the incident, UEFA has announced the postponement of the scheduled match between AEK Athen and Dinamo Zagreb “UEFA deplores in the strongest possible terms the appalling incidents that took place in Athens last night and resulted in the loss of life “While expressing our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim we would like to reiterate that violence has no place in our sport and we expect that those responsible for this terrible act be arrested and consigned to justice in the shortest delay.” Dinamo Zagreb have also released a statement since the incident “GNK Dinamo strongly condemns the riots that took place last night in Athens “Riots not only threaten the safety of everyone present but also damage football's reputation as a sport that unites people and cultures GNK Dinamo would like to express its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.” The match is likely to be rescheduled for Friday 18th August or Saturday 19th August meaning it will take place after the game in Zagreb which was originally due to be the first leg The incident in Athens last night follows a worrying trend of increased football-related violence at Stadia in Greece the Greek government increased the maximum sentence for fan violence from six months to five years This change came after a 19-year-old was killed in February 2022 during a fight between fans of Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK Seven people have since been found guilty of the 19-year-old's murder and sentenced to life in prison while five other people received sentences of more than 19 years for being complicit in the murder This latest football-related death is sure to put more pressure on the Greek government and footballing authorities to come up with new ways to put an end to it once and for all FootballGroundGuide » Latest Football Stadium and Fan News » AEK Athens vs Dinamo Zagreb violence: UCL qualifier postponed after Greek fan killed by hooligans Olympiacos secured the victory against AEK with a score of 2–0 for the 9th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League Playoffs The “red-and-whites” have one match left to complete the championship Olympiacos is on to the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League against Fiorentina Both goals of the match were scored by Horta with beautiful shots in the 65’ and 90+3’ Antenna Pacific Four epic derbies over four consecutive matchdays starting Monday Antenna Pacific subscribers will have the chance to watch four thrilling derbies between Greece’s top teams It all kicks off with the classic Athens showdown between AEK and Panathinaikos in Nea Filadelfeia the spotlight shifts to the Olympic Stadium for the fierce “eternal rivals” clash AEK will host PAOK in the “Dikefaloi” derby and the derby series wraps up with Panathinaikos facing Aris in Matchday 9 these derbies are crucial as the first half of the Greek Soccer Championship reaches a turning point The action begins in Matchday 6 with AEK taking on Panathinaikos After securing the talented Anthony Martial AEK is determined to stay in the title race recovering from their early draw with Lamia Panathinaikos seeks a big win to close the gap and reassert their place at the top Watch this thrilling match LIVE on Antenna Pacific on Monday 30 September at 4 am the focus of Greek soccer fans shifts to the Olympic Stadium for another epic “eternal rivals” clash facing a tough schedule with matches in both Europe and Greece The “Red and Whites” coming off a historic season have set their sights on reclaiming the top spot in Greece by winning the championship Olympiakos derby will be broadcast exclusively on Antenna Pacific After the October break for the Greek national team’s commitments in the Nations League Greek Soccer Championship Super League action will return in a big way with Matchday 8 Both teams will give their all for a crucial win in this high-stakes battle at the top of the league The “battle of the eagles” at Nea Filadelfia will be broadcast exclusively on Antenna Pacific The crucial matchup at the Olympic Stadium between Panathinaikos and Aris wraps up the series of the four major derbies Panathinaikos will aim to take full advantage of their home ground as they host Aris while the team from Thessaloniki is determined to break into the top four and secure a European spot This 9th matchday clash will be broadcast exclusively on Antenna Pacific The show GATE ANT1 LIVE is with you every week after the soccer games the show will be live both before and after the big games Join Manolis Manis to discuss all the key moments from these exciting matchups and much more Subscribe to Antenna Pacific in Australia via Foxtel or MySat More than 100 people were due to appear before a Greek prosecutor on Wednesday in connection with a deadly brawl before a Champions League qualifier near Athens this week A 29-year-old Greek man was stabbed and died in hospital after fans of AEK Athens and Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb clashed on Monday ahead of their teams’ third-round qualifying match at the Nea Filadelfeia stadium Greece’s ministry for citizen protection said fans threw stun grenades European football’s governing body UEFA condemned “in the strongest possible terms the appalling incidents” and postponed the match scheduled for Tuesday Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa The head of South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL called on FIFA to expand.. 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Often, people exaggerate the ferocity of football rivalries, but the derby matches between the Athens football teams have been passionate affairs for decades. Since 1927, 80 of the 87 Greek First Division titles have come from Athens. ‘The Big Three’ consists of AEK Athens who have an intense rivalry on and off the pitch that has spanned decades Athens is a historic and passionate football city with a variety of teams to watch This article will serve as your guide to Athens football teams in the Greek capital Panionios were founded in 1890 in Smyrna within the Ottoman Empire making them the oldest club out of all the Athens football teams They were eventually moved to the Athenian suburb of New Smyrna in the early 1920s Their most notable achievements include winning two Greek Cups in 1979 and 1998 as well as being victorious in the 1971 Balkans Cup Panionios also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999 They recently gained promotion to the second tier of Greek football — Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) April 7, 2024 having opened in 1939 and has an old-fashioned feel even with the recent renovations to the main stand and hospitality facilities It is an all-seated stadium that can hold nearly 12,000 spectators and has no stand at the northern end of the ground groundhoppers should try and take in a game at the Nea Smyrni Stadium for the upcoming season Atromitos have become a regular in the Greek Super League since their first promotion to the top flight in 2006 In line with the club’s recent success there have been improvements to the stadium when new seats were installed when they qualified for European football along with electronically controlled entrance gates The stadium is located in the suburb of Athens and is just over 5 kilometers north-west of the historic Athens city centre Although there is a running track around the pitch the ground maintains an intense feel for Atromitos home matches meaning Peristeri Stadium is definitely worth a visit for groundhoppers looking to watch one of Athens football teams the Agia Sophia Stadium (also known as the OPAP Arena due to sponsorship reasons) has been the home of AEK Athens the stadium has also been the home venue for Greek national team matches the OPAP Arena will host the UEFA Europa Conference League final AEK Athens are one of the ‘Big Three’ in Greece and have 13 Super League titles which is symbolic of the club’s strong connections with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire Having won the Greek Super League in the 2022/23 season AEK are looking to secure back-to-back titles for the first time since 1994 If you’re looking for passionate fans state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality football then the OPAP Arena should be on your list of stadiums to visit while in Athens Location: 160 Alexandras Avenue, Ambelokipi, Athens, Greece Named after the former president of the Panathenaic Athletic Club (A.O.) Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium is the home of Panathinaikos the ground is located just 2 kilometres north-east of the Athens city centre Due to uncertainty around the building of a new stadium Panathinaikos played various seasons at the Athens Olympic Stadium from 2005 to 2020 it was confirmed in 2022 that a new Votanikos Stadium will hopefully be completed in 2026 This will be the home stadium for Panathinakos FC and the other teams within the sports club the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium will be demolished If you want to sample the famous Panathinaikos ultras in Gate 13 and experience one of Europe’s most intimidating atmospheres then you should visit the ground as soon as possible before it is potentially demolished in the next few years Located in the Athens suburb of Piraeus is Olympiacos’ home ground it is the largest football-specific venue in Greece and the second-largest stadium in the country behind the Olympic Stadium The stadium was renovated to become an all-seater venue in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics the stadium now has over 40 VIP lounges and suites and a museum showcasing the sporting achievements of teams within the Olympiacos multi-sport club As well as hosting matches in the 2004 Olympics Karaiskakis Stadium was the venue for the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final and the 2023 UEFA Super Cup Olympiacos are the most successful club in Greece winning 47 league titles and 28 Greek Cups Their most recent league title came in 2022 English fans will recognise the owner and president of the Greek giants who is also the owner of Nottingham Forest The stadium is well-known for its hostile atmosphere which is intimidating for opposition players Fans can also find a monument outside the stadium which commemorates the deaths of 21 Olympiacos fans who tragically died in “Gate 7” following a match against AEK Athens There are also 21 seats painted in black among the red seats inside the ground to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives FootballGroundGuide » Latest Football Stadium and Fan News » Athens football teams: A guide to groundhopping in the Greek city Published: Invalid Date AEK ATHENS fans marked their return to their historic stadium after a 19-year exile with an extravagant show of flares AEK had been without a home since 2003 when their previous owners demolished Nikos Goumas in Nea Filadelfeia claiming it had been badly damaged from a big earthquake in 1999 The Greek giants initially planned to resurrect it by 2004, in time for the Olympic Games in Athens but that goal was never achieved and reconstruction would constantly be met by different hurdles The popular club then played all of its matches at the Olympic Stadium - dubbed OAKA - and underwent immense misery during those years It all came to a head in 2013 when AEK's serious financial problems caught up with them and the club was shockingly relegated to the third division legendary owner Dimitris Melissanidis returned to the wheel and took the team back to the first division in just two years And now the Greek giants finally have a home again at the stadium dubbed Agia Sophia. After a massive opening ceremony on Friday, AEK played their first ever game in their new home on Monday against Ionikos. The game was sold out with over 31,000 fans in attendance, hundreds of which lit red flares to mark their big return. And Matias Almeyda's men didn't disappoint as they picked up a comfortable 4-1 victory while Levi Garcia and Sergio Araujo were both on target before Christos Eleftheriadis netted the visitors' consolation goal in a historic night Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ During an encounter in which Olympiacos could have left the pitch victorious the side registered one point following the 1-1 draw in the Nea Filadephia stadium against AKE in MD4 of the Stoiximan Super League the red-and-white outfit managed to react and score the equalizer and could have netted one more and earned the victory whereas it was El Kaabi to level things in 38′ This is your guide for those cold days when you want to be warm indoors As the temperature drops and the city takes on a serene wintertime Athens offers the perfect opportunity to explore its cozy corners for food and wine indulgences Whether you’re seeking warmth by a crackling fireplace or a comforting cup of the city’s best hot chocolate This guide will lead you through the triumvirate of absolute winter indulgence Discover intimate restaurants serving heartwarming seasonal dishes charming spaces offering wine tastings of Greece’s finest varieties velvety hot chocolate can chase away the chill Famous for its spot on the Mnisikleous steps in Plaka Yasemi transforms in winter into a warm hideaway with a cozy fireplace along with sweets like apple pie and the daily cake It could be the setting for a film about life in Athens in the first half of the 20th century beautiful café in Plaka from another era this charming café is housed in a 400-year-old building and is decorated with round marble tables lace curtains on the windows and a beautiful fireplace for even more warmth and coziness Located in a 1930s mansion in Nea Filadelfeia Lemonokipos features a striking golden chimney over a fireplace feels like a mountain lodge with its fireplace and antique-filled interior The menu features hearty dishes like avgolemono vine leaves Finish with yogurt and homemade mandarin preserves A beloved spot in Agios Dimitrios for over 35 years Remoutsiko serves some of the best lamb chops in Athens and offers mutton ribs for discerning diners nestled among tall pine trees near a creek The menu highlights include lamb tongues in mustard sauce and dishes from the owners’ homelands of Crete and the Peloponnese Oinoscent offers a relaxed yet refined wine tasting experience in its cozy the tastings are guided by knowledgeable sommeliers who introduce guests to both emerging and renowned labels The experience caters to novices and connoisseurs alike providing insights into each wine’s origin and pairing suggestions Tastings are held in small groups for an intimate Participants can explore a wide variety of wines The focus is on enjoying wine in a relaxed setting making it a perfect introduction for those looking to expand their knowledge in an unpretentious way Hill Athens offers an elegant and immersive wine tasting experience on its rooftop The tastings highlight both Greek and international wines with an emphasis on pairing wines with traditional Mediterranean flavors providing a sophisticated journey through the world of wine Athens Wine Tasting specializes in curated private tasting events in stylish settings from small-group tastings to more personalized sessions with expert sommeliers focusing on regional varieties and food pairings making it an excellent option for wine lovers looking to deepen their appreciation of Greece’s rich wine heritage Petit Fleur has been a must-visit in Athens for hot chocolate The star attraction is the rich Valrhona hot chocolate complemented by homemade tarts and sandwiches L’arret du Temps is known for its cayenne pepper-infused hot chocolate The intimate atmosphere is ideal for cold winter evenings and their cinnamon hot chocolate offers a comforting classic Sokolata 56 serves exceptional Valrhona hot chocolate Its retro vibe takes you back to simpler times Clemente VIII offers an authentic Italian café experience their espressos and croissants are also top-notch this minimalistic shop offers creative hot and cold chocolate beverages A Greek football fan was stabbed to death on the outskirts of Athens on Monday night during a brawl between rival club supporters that left at least six others injured The 22-year-old man was transported from the stadium in the suburbs to an Athens hospital where he died The fight between fans broke out ahead of the UEFA Champions League third-qualifying-round match between hosts AEK Athens and Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb.  "A serious incident took place outside the Nea Filadelfeia stadium," Greek police said "A young Greek man was stabbed to death and six other injured people are in hospital."  Police said 83 people were arrested following the clash.  Violence has marred a number of previous Greek football matches and last year the government increased the maximum sentence for crimes of fan violence from six months to five years after another stabbing death.  was killed in February 2022 in the northern city of Thessaloniki during a fight between supporters of the city's rival clubs Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK.  Five others received sentences of more than 19 years for complicity.  It was the third death as a result of fan violence in a three-year period in Thessaloniki alone.  The arrest of the Istanbul mayor by Turkish authorities is “deeply worrying,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission president was asked about the arrest of the Istanbul mayor “We find the arrest of the mayor deeply worrying As a member of the Council of Europe and as a candidate for EU membership in particular the rights of elected officials So we want Turkey to remain committed to Europe but this requires a clear commitment to democratic norms and practices and it is essential that Turkey respects these fundamental principles,” said Ursula von der Leyen Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr Two people were arrested for drug trafficking on Monday afternoon (24/3) inside the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki. it is a 26-year-old Greek and a 39-year-old Algerian in whose possession were found quantities of hashish weighing a total of 50 grams and electronic precision scales This was preceded by complaints from citizens to the Greek Police that drugs were being trafficked within the campus Double-armed policemen of the DIA team rushed to the spot and spotted the two men The two police officers saw the two men at the scene of the crime.Eventually the officers managed to subdue and arrest them outside the Faculty of Philosophy building The two men are facing felony drug trafficking charges What is even more interesting, as revealed today by protothema.gr, is that there were strong disagreements within EODASAAM itself regarding the report’s conclusions on the cause of the fireball which referred to the “presence of an unknown fuel,” estimated at around 2.5 tons—an assertion now refuted even by the University of Ghent it has become clear that there were governmental missteps on the matter Just days before the release of video footage showing the freight train shortly before the tragic accident—which rules out any scenario involving the transport of illegal flammable materials—the Prime Minister himself appeared stating that he was not ruling out any possibility regarding the formation of the fireball following the train collision in Tempi The official report was presented at a press conference on 27/02 one day before the large demonstrations and the two-year anniversary of the railway tragedy the plenary session of the Board of Directors convened at the offices of EODASAAM in Nea Filadelfeia together with the Investigation Committee—consisting of Bart Accou the number two official at the European Union Agency for Railways it was requested that the conclusions regarding how the fireball was caused not be announced at the following day’s press conference The minutes of the meeting characteristically state: “According to the Board and safety recommendations must be based on valid data in accordance with the rules of conducting an independent investigation the simulation was conducted with the participation of individuals who are directly involved in the investigation of the accident in another capacity and issues of credibility and validity of the results may be raised the Board emphasized that it was not informed about the use of these individuals in the investigation of the fireball as no such notification had been made to the Board as was required.” Essentially a member of which is mechanical engineer Kostas Lakafosis—who is under scrutiny regarding the accuracy of his statements—was involved while it is a fact that EODASAAM never contracted the experts of EDAPO The continuation of the meeting’s minutes is even more revealing regarding the haste of some to adopt the highly questionable report of Ghent University which appears to have been based on EDAPO’s models and calculations and because the report of the National Technical University of Athens specifically that of Professor Karonis regarding the causes of the fireball as well as the authentication of the video footage of 63503 by the forensic laboratories of the Greek police all members of the Board unanimously requested Mr Accou and the other two members of the investigation committee (Kapetanidis-Carpinelli) not to disclose the conclusion of the report chapter referring to the causes of the fireball (but only the actions taken to investigate the incident) they requested that the result of the simulation—which concludes the presence of at least 2.5 tons of flammable material unrelated to the engines or the declared cargo—be confirmed by a top foreign academic institution such as the University of Lausanne,” the document specifically states the Committee members refused to delay the publication of the report “Respecting the complete independence of the Investigation Committee and the regulations of EDAPP which are applied analogously as EODASAAM’s operating rules until the adoption of new regulations the Board members unanimously decided to approve the report but at the same time authorized the President of the railway sector to immediately initiate the necessary procedures so that a top university in Greece or abroad could draw conclusions regarding the causes of the fireball the Board will proceed with publishing the results and if its conclusions differ from those reached by the Investigation Committee a supplementary report will be issued for the specific chapter,” it states Also highly revealing are the minutes from the EODASAAM meeting held on April 1st the Deputy President of the Organization and head of the railway sector fundamentally challenges EDAPO’s involvement in drafting the report in collaboration with Ghent University and states that the Board of the Organization had not been informed about this in advance while he also refers to conflicts of interest that arise “(The Board) was also informed that the use of EDAPO by the investigation committee for the calculation of the fireball and the collaboration with the University of Ghent was erroneous and in any case irregular b) it does not have the required authority and c) the Board was never informed about EDAPO’s role It was also informed that the president of the railway sector had formally requested the committee members to submit written evidence regarding when they were informed of the above matter—something that did not occur as no such official communication was ever made in complete violation of EODASAAM’s rules,” the statement reads Papadimitriou was surprised to learn—after the presentation of the report—that the EDAPO simulations had never been submitted to EODASAAM the committee did not even have the decency to officially request those results,” it is emphasized the Board of EODASAAM was neither informed in advance about EDAPO’s involvement nor did it ever receive the simulations themselves on which the University of Ghent based its assessment According to information from protothema.gr the internal balance of power within EODASAAM is now extremely delicate through press releases issued over the weekend EODASAAM explicitly states that the involvement of the Europeans has now concluded as the Investigation Committee has completed its term with the publication of the official report Papadimitriou is the one making decisions regarding the further examination of the scientific findings related to the fireball and is currently in discussions with both the Demokritos Research Center and a university research laboratory in Greece which will proceed with a new investigation over a time frame of 5–6 months An arrest warrant has been issued for the biological father of 3-year-old Angelos in Heraklion by the investigating judge in the case of the boy’s death cretalive.gr.The biological father of the 3-year-old boy is accused of methodical infliction of pain with danger to the child’s life and is called to apologize before the competent Heraklion interrogator The young man had received a relevant summons to apologize since March but until today he had not appeared before the competent investigating authority the investigator proceeded to issue a warrant against him had said that it was not possible to do so earlier as she had a travel ban on the day she was due to travel that because no summons has been sent to the biological father a warrant may have been issued by the investigator handling the case who had not identified the deceased Angelos were allegedly derived from some findings of the forensics and disputed video footage found on a mobile phone charges have been brought against the biological father for exposing a minor to danger and causing bodily injury and damage to health that constitute methodical infliction of severe physical pain