calciolega
Club Supporter
09-05) 08:06 PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) --
Greek soccer fans fought across the country, and Athens police fired tear gas to disperse crowds following a loss by European champion Greece in a World Cup qualifier.
A Greek-American man was arrested early Sunday, accused of stabbing to death an Albanian man and critically injuring two others.
The stabbing came hours after host Albania upset Greece 2-1 in Tirana on Saturday. Violence also was reported in the Greek northern port city of Thessaloniki, but no arrests were made. Minor clashes occurred in various parts of the country until morning.
"The government condemns unequivocally and in the most absolute way the acts of violence that took place yesterday in the sidelines of the game," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said. "Acts of violence are foreign to the spirit of sports."
Panagiotis Kladis-Xifitas, 22, of Chicago, is suspected of stabbing to death a 20-year-old Albanian on the Ionian island of Zakynthos. Two more Albanians were hospitalized with knife wounds. The suspect was to appear before a public prosecutor late Sunday.
In Athens, police used tear gas to break up hundreds of fans descending on the city's center. At least two cars driven by Albanians and heading to Omonia Square for celebrations were attacked by a group of Greeks, causing serious damage. Several riot police squads were deployed to prevent further violence.
Authorities said four Albanians and one Greek were being treated for minor injuries at hospitals in central Athens. Several people were detained by police for questioning. Officials did not provide figures for those arrested.
In Albania, home fans wearing red-and-black T-shirts and carrying national flags celebrated at Tirana's main Skanderbeg Square after the game, honking car horns and setting off firecrackers.
The game was played under tight security. Police had increased patrols on national roads and had barred parked cars near Qemal Stafa stadium. Cameras monitored access routes to the stadium, and fans were searched before entering
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SIMPLY DISGUSTING and DISTURBING!!
How can fans of a team who lived a miracle of a Euro victory sink so low as to this... Greece should have their home games either banned or played with closed gates for home fans. What disturbs me is - how can fans complain for this loss and result to violence? What animals...
Greek fans will now be associated with HOOLIGANISM....What a shame...
FIFA should take action there is now excuses for this kind of behavior.
Greek soccer fans fought across the country, and Athens police fired tear gas to disperse crowds following a loss by European champion Greece in a World Cup qualifier.
A Greek-American man was arrested early Sunday, accused of stabbing to death an Albanian man and critically injuring two others.
The stabbing came hours after host Albania upset Greece 2-1 in Tirana on Saturday. Violence also was reported in the Greek northern port city of Thessaloniki, but no arrests were made. Minor clashes occurred in various parts of the country until morning.
"The government condemns unequivocally and in the most absolute way the acts of violence that took place yesterday in the sidelines of the game," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said. "Acts of violence are foreign to the spirit of sports."
Panagiotis Kladis-Xifitas, 22, of Chicago, is suspected of stabbing to death a 20-year-old Albanian on the Ionian island of Zakynthos. Two more Albanians were hospitalized with knife wounds. The suspect was to appear before a public prosecutor late Sunday.
In Athens, police used tear gas to break up hundreds of fans descending on the city's center. At least two cars driven by Albanians and heading to Omonia Square for celebrations were attacked by a group of Greeks, causing serious damage. Several riot police squads were deployed to prevent further violence.
Authorities said four Albanians and one Greek were being treated for minor injuries at hospitals in central Athens. Several people were detained by police for questioning. Officials did not provide figures for those arrested.
In Albania, home fans wearing red-and-black T-shirts and carrying national flags celebrated at Tirana's main Skanderbeg Square after the game, honking car horns and setting off firecrackers.
The game was played under tight security. Police had increased patrols on national roads and had barred parked cars near Qemal Stafa stadium. Cameras monitored access routes to the stadium, and fans were searched before entering
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIMPLY DISGUSTING and DISTURBING!!
How can fans of a team who lived a miracle of a Euro victory sink so low as to this... Greece should have their home games either banned or played with closed gates for home fans. What disturbs me is - how can fans complain for this loss and result to violence? What animals...
Greek fans will now be associated with HOOLIGANISM....What a shame...
FIFA should take action there is now excuses for this kind of behavior.
