UEFA president Alexander Ceferin urged Europe on Wednesday to help eliminate hooliganism, which he called “the cancer of football”, days after a man was killed in clashes before a match between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb in Greece.
After a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, Ceferin said that the problem was Europe-wide and cooperation was needed to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
“This is the cancer of football, and those are not football fans,” Ceferin said. “We came to a position where we have to say enough… we have to stop this.
“Violence and hooliganism are not only a Greek problem,” he said, adding that European countries, institutions, and the media had to work together to help end football violence.
Over 100 individuals, primarily Croatian nationals, have been formally charged with serious offences and are under custody awaiting trial due to their involvement in the confrontations that led to the fatal stabbing of 29-year-old AEK supporter Michalis Katsouris in Athens, according to Greek authorities.
The pre-trial detentions have generated diplomatic tensions between Greece and Croatia.
Greek diplomats revealed that the country’s foreign minister, George Gerapetritis, assured his Croatian counterpart that the rights of the detained individuals would be fully upheld.
Greece has been actively pursuing soccer reforms in response to persistent violence both on and off the field.
In the past year, a 19-year-old fan was fatally beaten and stabbed outside Aris Thessaloniki’s stadium.
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis expressed the nation’s intent to consider stricter regulations aimed at curbing violence during sporting events.