70 hooligans, predominantly Croatian nationals and Dinamo Zagreb fans, have been detained in Athens in connection with the murder of Greek AEK football supporter Michalis Katsouris. The arrests followed violent clashes leading to Katsouris’ tragic death on Monday. A third group of 105 defendants will appear before prosecutors soon.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic expressed concerns about the judicial treatment of the Croatian defendants, cautioning against a perception of collective responsibility. Milanovic questioned the Greek police’s behavior and emphasized that the circumstances of Katsouris’ death remain unspecified.
According to statements shared by Greek media on Saturday evening, the Milanovic repoertedly said: “Regardless of why they [Croatian defendants] went to Athens, which is to start episodes, and that I cannot support, the behavior of the [Greek] police is strange.”
The Croatian President also told reporters that the Croatian defendants “have citizen rights and the circumstances under which a life was lost are still unspecified, they are unknown.”
“[The defendants] are adults, they were not sent there by their parents. They went by themselves, and some of them will be held accountable for this – but not all one hundred of them,” Milanovic clarified.
Meanwhile, the victim’s brother, accompanied by his legal team, has requested specific investigations to apprehend his brother’s killer.
The violence erupted just ahead of the UEFA Champions League qualifier between AEK Athens and GNK Dinamo Zagreb. The clashes resulted in multiple injuries, with four individuals still hospitalized. Charges against all 103 individuals arrested on gang-related counts were issued by a judge, encompassing offenses such as assault and possession of explosive substances. Murder-related charges are expected to be dropped for many of the accused as the investigation unfolds.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is slated to meet with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin to discuss the incident and broader European football matters. As the case develops, Croatia’s president’s comments and the ongoing investigation continue to shape the narrative surrounding this tragic event.
