PAOK face punishment after pitch invasion
ATHENS - PAOK Salonika face sanctions after fans invaded the pitch and a goalkeeper was hit by a flare at a Cup match on Wednesday, the Greek football federation (EPO) said on Thursday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cNSrtibrNGSgyqVqPWGhvj.jpg)
"The Federation will examine the details of the case and some form of punishment is expected," a spokesman told Reuters, adding that the football body was still awaiting all the details.
PAOK lost 1-0 to AEK Athens in a Greek Cup semi-final second leg match at Salonika's Toumba stadium that was marred by two outbreaks of violence.
The first came in the 58th minute when a flare hit AEK's Argentine goalkeeper Sebastian Saja. The player's jersey was singed but he was not injured.
Then, with barely a minute remaining, dozens of PAOK fans invaded the pitch and started clashing with riot police. TV cameras were also attacked as AEK players and the referee ran off the pitch.
Play was suspended for 20 minutes before the referee returned to blow the final whistle. No stoppage time was played.
The incident was the fifth pitch invasion of a season plagued by violence inside and outside Greek stadiums.
A players' strike was narrowly averted last week after their PSAP union failed to get the backing of all 16 top flight clubs - a move prompted as a reaction to the increase in crowd violence.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Top clubs Olympiakos Pireaus and Panathinaikos were both handed supporter bans after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch, fighting police and attacking players following Olympiakos's 2-1 win over their closest rivals on February 19.
Attacks by supporters on the Super League offices and the home of Olympiakos player Vasilis Torosidis followed.
Panathinaikos assigned bodyguards to several players as the fall-out continued from what has been dubbed the "derby of shame" by Greek media.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack