ATHENS, Greece — Nearly 100 arrested Croatian soccer followers appeared in an Athens courtroom Wednesday to face severe felony costs that embody homicide and membership of a felony group, over their alleged involvement in lethal fan violence. The handcuffed youths – many with their shirts pulled over their heads to cover their identification – appeared earlier than an investigative Justice of the Peace a day after a 29-year-old Greek fan was stabbed to dying exterior AEK Athens’ stadium, prompting the cancellation of a Champions League qualifier towards Dinamo Zagreb.
Court officers mentioned the Justice of the Peace issued the blanket costs towards all 103 suspects, together with 97 Croatian nationals. The indictments additionally included costs of a number of assault and unlawful possession and use of explosive materials. The murder-related cost is prone to be dropped for a lot of the defendants because the investigation proceeds.
Amateur video of the assault confirmed dozens of youths wielding bats and iron bars working previous the stadium, as flares and petrol bombs exploded. Ten folks have been injured and 4 stay hospitalized.
Elsewhere in Greece, police arrange freeway roadblocks and extra border checks to seek for extra suspects. Authorities introduced the arrest of six Croatian nationals as they tried to flee the nation. Five of the suspects have been detained within the northwestern port of Igoumenitsa as they ready to board a ferry certain for Italy, whereas the sixth was arrested on a bus certain for Albania. More violence was feared later Wednesday as Athens membership Panathinaikos faces Marseille in a Champions League qualifier, which was set to go forward underneath strict safety measures at Leoforos Stadium within the heart of the Greek capital. Police have been getting ready a cordon across the stadium and arrange patrols at close by intersections and subway stations. The vice chairman of the European Commission, Greek politician Margaritis Schinas, condemned “the horrible violence” that occurred at AEK’s stadium. “(There is) no place for violence and hooliganism in European football,” he wrote in a web-based publish, including that he had contacted the top of European soccer’s governing physique, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, to debate the incident. The Greek capital may also host the UEFA Super Cup subsequent week between Manchester City and Sevilla.
Greek Public Order Minister Giannis Oikonomou mentioned the police had made “tragic errors” in failing to cease the touring Croatian supporters and failing to behave on data that clashes have been probably. He has dismissed calls from opposition events to resign and suspended seven cops, together with a number of in senior positions, pending an investigation and their reassignment or dismissal.
Outside AEK’s Opap Arena, followers arrange tributes to the supporter who was killed – recognized by members of the family as Michalis Katsouris from a city close to Athens – leaving flowers and candles on the web site the place he died of a stab wound.
PHOTOS: Greek police arrest 5 Croatians allegedly concerned in lethal soccer violence
AEK says it has referred to as on European soccer’s governing physique, UEFA, to impose “immediate and severe punishment” on Dinamo Zagreb, expressing disappointment that the qualifier will go forward in Zagreb later this month.
“The question that torments our fans is one that we described from the outset and that also torments us: How is it possible that following the brutal murder of Michalis by a gang of vicious criminals from Croatia, for AEK Athens to enter the field and play against this team?” AEK mentioned.
“Will any of his killers be in the stands?”
The Croatian authorities and Dinamo have each strongly condemned that assaults in Athens. But the Zagreb membership defended its actions, insisting it has totally cooperated with authorities, and rejected calls from AEK for its expulsion from European competitions. In a joint assertion, in the meantime, the mayors of Athens and Zagreb, Kostas Bakoyannis and Tomislav Tomasevic appealed for calm.
“Athens and Zagreb maintain friendly ties, and as mayors we are committed to strengthening them,” they wrote. “This senseless violence has no place in our stadiums, in our cities and in our societies.”
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