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.



Number of Tennis Players Worldwide Goes Past 100 Million, Federation Says

Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024  Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
TT

Number of Tennis Players Worldwide Goes Past 100 Million, Federation Says

Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024  Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca

The number of people who play tennis has surpassed 100 million worldwide, according to the International Tennis Federation.
A global report released by the federation on Thursday said that nearly 106 million people around the world played at least one game of tennis in the last year, an increase of 25% compared to 2019.
According to The Associated Press, the federation said it was on track to add 30 million players to the game since that report in 2019.
The total number of women who play tennis grew by 8%, but the proportion of female players decreased from 47% in 2019 to 40% now. The federation said there are 13% more coaches in general, and 24% are women, compared to 20% in 2019.
ITF tennis development director Luca Santilli said there was no “specific reason" for the decrease in the percentage of women players, but he expected that the increase in the number of female coaches was going to help make a “difference” in getting more women playing the game.