The Foreign Ministers of Greece and Croatia, George Gerapetritis and Gordan Grlić Radman have held a phone conversation to address the recent incarceration of 102 Croatian football hooligans who were apprehended for their involvement in the fatal incidents outside the AEK football stadium in Athens on August 7th.
Diplomatic sources, as reported by the state news agency AMNA, revealed that Minister Radman expressed his condolences for the demise of Greek football fan Michalis Katsouris, whose life was tragically claimed during the violent clashes. He unequivocally condemned the participation of Croatian nationals in the incidents.
Radman conveyed his confidence in the Greek justice system’s ability to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. He extended gratitude to the Greek state and prison authorities for their collaborative efforts.
Minister Gerapetritis, on his part, reaffirmed his belief in the autonomy and integrity of the Greek judiciary, ensuring an unbiased examination of the case while upholding the fundamental rights of those held in pre-trial custody.
The aftermath of the violence resulted in the detention of 102 Croatian citizens pending trial, following three days of preliminary testimonies. Additionally, two Greek nationals and one Albanian have been placed under custody for their alleged involvement. Greek media reports suggest that one more Greek individual is sought for questioning in connection with the case. Authorities are also actively pursuing more Croatian hooligans who are believed to still be present within Greece, as per information from Open TV.
During his testimony before Athens prosecutors, the 40-year-old Croatian, who is believed to be the leader of the Dinamo Zagreb hooligan group known as “Bad Blue Boys,” stated that he traveled to Greece from Vienna, his place of residence, to show support for his team during their practice. He claimed that his group was assaulted by AEK fans outside the stadium. The individual denied accusations of being the ringleader of the hooligan group.
Exactly one week after the violent confrontation between Dinamo Zagreb hooligans and AEK fans outside the OPAP Arena in Athens, the AEK football team arrived in Zagreb. The team is set to participate in a UEFA qualifier game scheduled for Tuesday evening. The initial match, which was planned for August 8th in Athens, was canceled due to the disturbing events.
AEK coach Matias Almeyda conveyed to Ant1 TV reporters that the team will take the field in Zagreb as a tribute to their club and in memory of the young fan who lost his life in the attack.
Journalist Ioannis Santorinaios, accompanying the team in Zagreb, reported on Facebook that the players were escorted by a convoy of police cars upon arrival in Croatia. The team’s hotel is under tight security measures to ensure their safety.
The upcoming match between the two teams is scheduled to be held in Athens on August 19th.
