Man dies in soccer-related clash
Three suspects were in custody last night after one man was killed and another seriously injured in a fight between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos fans near Athens following Wednesday night’s soccer game between the two teams. The incident occurred at a cafeteria in Artemida, a seaside town east of Athens, when a fight broke out between two groups of fans after Olympiakos thrashed Panathinaikos 4-0 in the Greek Cup. The three Panathinaikos fans allegedly attacked two Olympiakos supporters shortly after midnight, resulting in the stabbing of the two men who had just returned from the game. The victims, 24 and 26, were rushed to hospitals in Athens but the younger man died at around 3 a.m. He had been stabbed in the heart The 26-year-old was in a stable condition and his life is not thought to be in danger after undergoing an operation. The victim’s father maintained the attack was motivated by soccer rivalry but the three suspects told police that they had personal differences with the pair of Olympiakos fans after clashing in August. It was not clear what caused the initial argument. That incident led to one local filing a suit against one of the Panathinaikos fans. The suspects believed that the two Olympiakos fans informed the police about their identity and the trio had reportedly been out for revenge ever since. The 24-year-old victim had been arrested three years ago in Thessaloniki for causing trouble at a soccer game. The incident revived memories of the death of 22-year-old Michalis Filopoulos before a women’s volleyball game between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos last March. Filopoulos, a Panathinaikos fan, was stabbed and beaten to death during a brawl between hooligans. Nobody has been convicted for his death.
