Greek football club PAOK were held to a 0-0 draw by Maccabi Tel Aviv in their Europa League opener in Thessaloniki, as the match unfolded under tight security and protests.
PAOK fans booed the Israeli side, waved Palestinian flags, and displayed a large banner reading “Show Israel the Red Card.”
Greek police said several protesters were detained ahead of the game.
#MatchReport Ατυχία και αστοχία του στέρησαν τη νίκη. #PAOKMAT #UEL #PAOK #OurWay
— PAOK FC (@PAOK_FC) September 24, 2025
Two demonstrations in the city called for Israeli clubs to be expelled from European competition over the war in Gaza, with one banner reading “Genocide” hung near the US consulate.
Authorities conducted a large-scale security operation, with bomb squad sniffer dogs sweeping the stadium.
About 120 Israeli fans were kept behind a police cordon, while the Maccabi team bus was escorted by special forces to the 28,000-seat Toumba Stadium.
