Violence Curtails Greek Derby
19 March 2012
The Athens Super League derby between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos was disrupted by crowd disorder and eventually abandoned with nine minutes remaining.
Former Brighton and Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards, currently on loan at Olympiakos, told TalkSport that the second half was delayed following trouble. However, during the second half home supporters apparently set fire to sections of the Olympic Stadium leading the the referee taking the players of the pitch with Olympiakos leading 1-0. They have subsequently been awarded the victory.
Visiting fans had been barred from the fixture, in accordance with the Greek league’s policy, due to the risk of conflict yet disorder began before the game outside the ground and continued inside.
It is reported that fire tenders which entered the stadium to extinguish the fires were attacked and up to twenty police officers were injured.
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