Greek Game Abandoned Due to Fan, Police Clashes by DEMETRIS NELLAS
Tuesday 20th March, 2012 15 Greek game abandoned due to fan, police clashes BY DEMETRIS NELLAS ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek league game between leader Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned with eight minutes to go on Sunday because of escalating clashes between fans and the police. Police announced that 57 people had been detained and a further 20 arrested, while nine police officers were injured, two of them seriously. “We dedicated several thousand per- sonnel to policing the game and we faced, beginning two hours before the game started, escalating attacks,” police Riot police officers are attacked with fire spokesman Athanassios Kokalakis said. bombs,thrown by Panathinaikos’ fans during a Olympiakos, four points ahead of soccer match in the Greek Super League at the Panathinaikos before the game, was lead- Olympic stadium in Athens, Sunday, March 18 ing 1-0 from Djamel Abdoun’s 51st- 2012. The Greek league game between leader minute goal. No Olympiakos fans attended the Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned game at Olympic Stadium in accordance with eight minutes to go because of escalating with a league policy not to allow visiting clashes between fans and the police. fans due to fears of violence. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) Sports general secretary Panos Bitsaxis said on television that the state had taken “the best possible security measures” and accused football clubs of doing nothing to curb the fanatical sup- porters and of opposing the state’s attempts to impose tougher sanctions. Bitsaxis left open the option of postpon- ing the next round. According to league rules, Panathinaikos is facing having three points deducted and a steep fine, up to 180,000, and could play several games in front of empty stands.
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