Greece suspends football due to violent outburst at Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos match

Panathinaikos fans throw objects at Olympiakos’ Jimmy Durmaz

Violence at a match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos forced the Greek government to suspend all professional football matches indefinitely. Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, who are known as the ‘eternal enemies’, have a history of such events, but the newly-elected ruling party Syriza are focused on finding a permanent solution to this problem.

This though is not the first time the Greeks are facing this problem. The league has already been suspended twice this season, and both were due to violent outburst from fans.

The suspension is applicable to the top three divisions of the league.

“What we have been informed is that the Super League and the Football League have been suspended indefinitely,” Super League president Giorgos Borovilos told reporters.

“We have a new government who are looking to bring this subject up for discussion and implement state laws related to it.”

Borovilos added, “The government wants games to start again as soon as possible, but for that they want to see immediate reactions from all of us.”

This suspension was caused due to fans hurling flares, rocks, and bottles at match officials during Panathinaikos’ 2-1 victory over Olympiakos.

An executive meeting between the Super League officials had to be postponed after a Panathinaikos official claimed he was punched by security personnel who belonged to Olympiakos.

The first suspension this season was caused due to the death of a fan at the clash between fans of teams Ethnikos Piraeus and Irodotos who belong to the third-tier of the Greek league.

The second suspension took place when the assistant director of the refereeing committee was assaulted.