Greek Soccer Fan Dies as Soccer Fans Clash in Athens

People enjoy the sea as a Greek flag waves at Alimos beach, in southern Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
People enjoy the sea as a Greek flag waves at Alimos beach, in southern Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
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Greek Soccer Fan Dies as Soccer Fans Clash in Athens

People enjoy the sea as a Greek flag waves at Alimos beach, in southern Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
People enjoy the sea as a Greek flag waves at Alimos beach, in southern Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A fan died on Tuesday after being seriously injured in violence among fans of AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb soccer clubs in Athens, police said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old man was stabbed several times in clashes among fans of both clubs outside AEK's football pitch in Nea Philadelphia late on Monday, a police official said.

Police said 100 to 120 Dinamo Zagreb fans showed up late on Monday near the AEK stadium, and where AEK fans had gathered.

Clashes broke out more than an hour after the visiting team's training session ended and the team had left the stadium, with fans from both sides hurling flares, makeshift explosives and stones, police said.
Three Greek and five Croatian fans were also injured and being treated, and 98 people were arrested over taking part in the violence, the police official added.
Dinamo condemned the incident. "Such events are not in line with the values ​​and ethics we promote as a club and community," the team said in a statement published on their website on Tuesday.
A Greek police spokesperson said that the UEFA Champions League qualifying-round match between AEK and visiting Dinamo Zagreb that was scheduled to take place at AEK's stadium on Tuesday was postponed.
Greek soccer has been plagued by violence on and off the pitch and authorities have repeatedly promised to clean up the game.
Fights between football fans are frequent before or after a game despite heavy fines.



Juventus Beat Verona 2-0 with Late Thuram, Koopmeiners Goals

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Hellas Verona - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 3, 2025 Juventus' Teun Koopmeiners scores their second goal past Hellas Verona's Lorenzo Montipo REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Hellas Verona - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 3, 2025 Juventus' Teun Koopmeiners scores their second goal past Hellas Verona's Lorenzo Montipo REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
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Juventus Beat Verona 2-0 with Late Thuram, Koopmeiners Goals

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Hellas Verona - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 3, 2025 Juventus' Teun Koopmeiners scores their second goal past Hellas Verona's Lorenzo Montipo REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Hellas Verona - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 3, 2025 Juventus' Teun Koopmeiners scores their second goal past Hellas Verona's Lorenzo Montipo REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Late goals from Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners earned misfiring Juventus a 2-0 home win against Hellas Verona in Serie A on Monday as Thiago Motta's side extended their winning run to five games.

Juventus held a lion's share of possession and created nearly 30 chances but struggled to break the deadlock with most of them missing the target, while visiting goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo produced a string of saves to deny the rest.

But Thuram found a way past the heroic Verona keeper in the 72nd minute, scoring with first touch from around the penalty spot, and Koopmeiners doubled the lead with a low shot from a tight angle in the 90th.

Juve, who last week were eliminated in Coppa Italia quarter-finals by relegation-threatened Empoli, are fourth in the standings on 52 points, six off leaders Inter Milan and two above Lazio in fifth.

The hosts, who were the only Italian side to win all of their league games in February, cut distance to the top after Inter drew at second-placed Napoli last weekend and Atalanta, in third, were held goalless at home by lowly Venezia, Reuters reported.

Verona are 14th, four points above the relegation zone.

The visitors had the first attempts on target through Tomas Suslov and Amin Sarr, who both struck from outside the box inside seven minutes, but Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio saved their shots.

Verona barely abandoned their own half ever since as they were under constant fire from Juventus.

Thuram should have put the home side in front early on when he was served a precise pass inside the area but his attempt from the penalty spot lacked strength and Montipo had no problem denying him.

Weston McKennie thought he made it 1-0 before the break with a close-range header following a free kick but his goal was ruled out for a foul on the Verona keeper.

Montipo continued to deliver and Manuel Locatelli saw his two brilliant chances thwarted minutes later as frustration grew among the local fans.

However, things could have been worse for Juve as Verona appeared to have taken a shock lead in first-half stoppage time through Suslov, who fired from a distance, but his stunning goal was disallowed for offside.

Kenan Yildiz hit the side netting for the hosts after the restart as more chances missed Verona's goal until Thuram sent the ball inside the right side of the net to finally give them the lead.

Koopmeiners doubled the advantage when he was teed up on the edge of the area and outfoxed Verona's defence to strike past Montipo inside the near post.

Juventus won each of their first four home league games in a single calendar year for the first time since 2021.