Greece has suspended the operation of hundreds of soccer fan clubs in a bid to combat hooligans using them as cover, Ekathimerini reports.
The ban will apply until the end of July and was triggered by the murder of a 19-year-old who was stabbed and beaten to death by soccer hooligans in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
The February 1 murder of Thessaloniki resident, Alkis Kambanos, shocked the city and soccer fans nationwide.
READ MORE: Suspect arrested in Thessaloniki murder case as tributes flow for 19-year-old victim.
Greece’s Justice Minister, Kostas Tsiaras, Civil Protection Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, and government spokesperson, Yiannis Economou, introduced the stricter legal framework for dealing with violence related to sports on Monday.
Theodorikakos said the new measures would include tougher jail terms and sentencing guidelines for organised sport-related violence.
Supporters clubs would be allowed to reopen only after July 31, following an extensive review of the operation rules and the introduction of a new operating framework.
READ MORE: Weapon used in Thessaloniki knife attack that killed 19-year-old student found.
“Hooliganism is a global scourge that is responsible for the death of dozens of people,” Theodorikakos said. “It is time that we killed the Lernaean Hydra of violence and hooliganism.”
The new measures will require parliamentary approval but are likely to receive broad political support beyond the government’s comfortable majority.
Greek authorities have already raided 575 fan clubs across Greece. They also issued a permanent ban on 67 clubs and made 17 arrests.
Source: AP News.
