Athens, Greece – Following the clashes that unfolded in the Greek capital, leading to the tragic death of a 29-year-old AEK Athens supporter, authorities have taken decisive action. All 105 football fans suspected of being linked to the violent incident have been ordered to be detained pending trial, according to an official statement released on Sunday.
The investigative process, overseen by three examining magistrates and two prosecutors, unfolded in a meticulous manner. The detained fans were questioned in staggered batches over three consecutive days – 30 on Friday, 40 on Saturday, and 35 on Sunday. The decision to detain them pending trial was made following each round of inquiries. A suspect who is currently under hospital care, placed under guard, provided his deposition to a visiting magistrate.
The group under scrutiny consists of 102 Croatian citizens and three Greek nationals. All of them have adamantly denied any involvement in the fatal stabbing of Michalis Katsouris. The victim tragically succumbed to a stab wound, while an additional ten individuals sustained injuries during the disturbing episode. Croatian supporters, brandishing wooden clubs and metal bats, launched a violent attack on bystanders outside AEK’s Opap Arena on the evening of the incident. Consequently, a Champions League qualifier match between AEK and Dinamo Zagreb scheduled for the previous week was canceled by UEFA, the governing body of European football, due to the escalating violence.
Legal authorities are poised to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cellphone signals at the two key locations of the clashes – in the vicinity of AEK’s stadium and a metro station – to ascertain any potential additional involvement.
Prosecutors have levied a series of blanket charges, totaling 11, against the 105 fans. Among these charges, four are classified as felonies, encompassing premeditated murder and membership in a criminal organization, while the remaining charges are categorized as misdemeanors.
The detained suspects will be allocated across various detention centers throughout the country. Notably, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday, followed by discussions involving ministers, the head of Greece’s Football Federation, and the owners of the country’s four major football clubs – AEK, Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, and PAOK Thessaloniki.
Simultaneously, the UEFA Super Cup final between Manchester City and Sevilla will be hosted at Olympiakos’ stadium near Piraeus on the same day, marking a significant event on the international football calendar.
