A young soccer fan was hospitalized in a serious condition yesterday after being stabbed in the chest by supporters of a rival team ahead of an Athens match between two of Greece's top football clubs.

Stefanos Dometiou, 23, was injured during an attack by a group of AEK Athens hooligans on Olympiakos Piraeus supporters outside the Kypseli offices of an Olympiakos fan club on Aghiou Meletiou Street. By the time police arrived on the spot - there is a precinct just two blocks away - all the hooligans had melted away, while the fan club office was found to be locked up.

The injured Olympiakos supporter underwent surgery and was in a stable condition late yesterday at the Athens Evangelismos Hospital.

AEK and Olympiakos met later yesterday evening in Nea Smyrni, in a match marred by extensive fan riots.