On 7 August 2023, the fatal injury of Michalis Katsouris brought football violence back to the spotlight. On the occasion of this tragic event, we travelled both in space and time talking to lawyers, academics, police officers, football fans and relatives of victims. We tried to shed light on the unknown world of ultras in Greece and Europe in general and also to identify focal points and events that have changed a phenomenon that emerged in the 80s, but has become increasingly severe as the years go by.
«Without the Ultras, there is no football»: James Montague on fans and politics
We spoke with journalist and author James Montague about the history and culture of the fans movement, its association with violence, and its contemporary forms and expressions.
-
Sunday 17 December 2023. A Dinamo Zagreb fan outside the Maximir stadium in Zagreb, the eternal derby between Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split is about to begin. -
Maximir stadium, surroundings -
A Dinamo Zagreb fan shows his team's scarf -
Flares' smoke by Hajduk Split fans. Around 3,000 of them travelled over 300 kilometers to watch the match. Police security measures were draconian. -
Fans of Dinamo Zagreb watch the goalless first half. -
"When Dinamo scores". Dinamo Zagreb fans react to their team's goal against Hajduk Split. The goal was subsequently cancelled as offside. -
Bad Blue Boys fans in the stands.
In the room with the Bad Blue Boys
iMEdD met in Zagreb with leading members of one of the most hardcore Ultras groups in Europe.
Before Lavriou, there was Ymittou: The fight that led to Filopoulos’ Murder
“For the first time, we understood how our opponents think” – a video that endures till this day marked the onset of a new, more aggressive era of hooliganism in Greece.
Victims of football violence in Greece
-
1983
Aris Dimtriadis
18 years old
Charilaou area, Thessaloniki - cyclist. He was killed by Aris F.C. fans.
-
1986
Charalampos Blionas
29 years old
Larissa (AEL) F.C. - was hit by a flare thrown by PAOK F.C. fans in Alkazar stadium.
-
1991
Efthymis Liakas & Kostas Dolias
21 & 25 years old
PAOK F.C. - were hit by Molotov cocktails in their car by fans of an unidentified team.
-
1991
Giorgos Panagiotou
17 years old
Olympiacos F.C. - outside Nea Philadelphia, Athens - hit by a naval flare thrown by AEK F.C. fans.
-
1995
Giorgos Karnezis
25 years old
Panathinaikos F.C. - Glyfada Square, Athens - stabbed by Olympiacos F.C. fans.
-
2007
Michalis Filopoulos
25 years old
Panathinaikos F.C. - Lavrio Avenue, Athens - was beaten with an iron bar and stabbed by Olympiacos F.C. fans.
-
2011
Giannis Rousakis
21 years old
Panathinaikos F.C. - Heraklion, Crete - stabbed by OFI F.C. fans.
-
2014
Kostas Katsoulis
46 years old
Ethnikos F.C. - Nea Alikarnassos Stadium, Crete - beaten to death by Irodotos F.C. fans.
-
2017
Nasos Konstantinou
24 years old
PAOK F.C. - Agios Dimitrios, Thessaloniki - fatally injured by a passing vehicle while being chased by Iraklis F.C. fans.
-
2020
Tosco Bozadziski
28 years old
Botev Plovdiv / fraternized with Aris F.C. fans - Thessaloniki - fatally injured by a passing vehicle while unconscious on the road after an attack by PAOK F.C. fans.
-
2022
Alkis Kambanos
19 years old
ARIS F.C. - Thessaloniki - was killed by PAOK F.C. fans.
-
2023
Michalis Katsouris
29 years old
AEK F.C. - Nea Filadelfeia Athens- stabbed to death by an unknown assailant, after a clash with GNK Dinamo Zagreb - Panathinaikos F.C. fans.
-
2023
Giorgos Lyggeridis
Police officer - Athens- hit by a naval flare thrown by Olympiacos F.C. fans.
The shadowy world of Telegram hooligans
The Bad Blue Boys, hooligans associated with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb, have links to organized fans from Ukraine and Greece. An in-depth investigation conducted by iMEdD delved into numerous public channels and social media profiles to uncover the connections between organized fans from Croatia, Ukraine, and Greece, as well as their affiliations with far-right ideologies.
The project team
Investigation-Audio Documentary: Kostas Koukoumakas, Panagiotis Menegos, George Schinas
Sound Mixing – Sound Design: Aris Athanasopoulos
iMEdD Podcasts Content and Production Manager: Panagiotis Menegos
Art Direction: Evgenios Kalofolias
