PAOK supporters gathered at Toumba Stadium on Thursday night to pay an emotional farewell to seven young fans who were killed in a road accident in Romania, with chants and flares creating a scene reminiscent of a matchday tribute.
The bodies of the seven victims arrived in Thessaloniki on a C-130 military aircraft from Timișoara, landing at Macedonia Airport shortly after 6pm. Before departure, a memorial service was held at Timișoara Airport, where the local metropolitan bishop placed a white rose on each coffin.
Supporters welcomed the aircraft on its arrival and escorted the coffins in a motorcycle procession to Toumba Stadium, chanting slogans such as “Immortal” and “Brothers, you live on, you guide us.”
Funerals for the seven victims will be held on Friday and Saturday in Thessaloniki, Alexandria of Imathia and Aronas of Pieria.
Meanwhile, two supporters injured in the same accident are being treated in stable condition at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki. The injured men, aged 20 and 28, were transferred from Romania earlier in the day on a special EKAV aircraft.
The 20-year-old, Konstantinos, has a head injury and is being treated in the neurosurgery clinic. His father said: “He has been hit on the head; he is in shock. Things are not easy, but we are moving toward the better. My condolences to the families of the victims.”
The 28-year-old, Marios, who is more lightly injured, requested to be discharged to attend the funerals, but doctors did not allow it and he remains hospitalised for precautionary reasons.
A third injured supporter remains in Romania after undergoing successful surgery for swelling in his neck and is currently unable to travel by air.
