The clearest message that the government will do everything to eliminate football violence was sent today (17/03) by Michalis Chrysochoidis from Thessaloniki, during a press conference he gave regarding the murder of 20-year-old Kleomenis in the Kalamaria area last Thursday. According to voria.gr, the Minister of Citizen Protection spoke of an incident “with indications of a football hooligan background,” emphasizing that “the supervising authority has ordered the opening of a case file to investigate criminal acts by specific groups that operate with motives far from sporting venues but have elements of organized crime, to be placed under surveillance and control based on criminal law, to be dismantled and dissolved.”
Read: Murder of 20-year-old in Thessaloniki: New video evidence of his collapse after the fatal stabbing
Chrysochoidis from Thessaloniki on the murder of 20-year-old Kleomenis: “They will find us standing against them”
They will find us standing against them, Mr. Chrysochoidis added, emphasizing that “we are here to dismantle them, all of them.” Mr. Chrysochoidis stated that this particular incident “will serve as a guide for other actions in the legislative field,” adding that existing provisions relating to the participation of minors and young adults involved in criminal acts within the framework of sports teams will be improved.
“Greece leads all of Europe in stadium security”
In this context, Mr. Chrysochoidis emphasized that “penalties are being strengthened for adults who use minors or demonstrably recruit them for such purposes.” Regarding these specific individuals, Mr. Chrysochoidis said that “these groups consist of organized crime members with criminal acts characterized by violence.” Finally, Mr. Chrysochoidis said that “since February 2024, regarding offenses related to sports law, 1,593 checks were carried out with 147 arrests, while 196 individuals were charged and 13 were remanded in custody,” adding that “Greece leads all of Europe in stadium security.”
