Greeks call on UEFA to ban Dinamo Zagreb after fan stabbed to death in Athens

August 10 - Greece's AEK Athens, Greek media and fan groups have called on UEFA to exclude Dinamo Zagreb from European competition after clashes before a third qualifying round game of the Champions League in Athens leaves a fan stabbed to death and the match is postponed.

The Croatian leg of the match is still scheduled to be played on Tuesday August 15, while the Athens match has now been postponed by UEFA to August 19.

In a statement announcing the postponement, UEFA said it "deplores in the strongest possible terms the appalling incidents which took place in Athens last night and resulted in the death of one person. While expressing our deepest sympathy to the victim's family, AEK Athens FC and its supporters, we would like to reiterate that violence has no place in our sport and we expect those responsible for this terrible act be arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible."

It's not enough for the Greek club or the Greek media who want the Croatian kicked out of European competition.

AEK said in a statement: "The same question that torments our fans and which we discover in the last few hours in all respects, also torments us: how is it possible that after the barbaric murder of Michalis by a pack of wandering criminals from Croatia, can AEK step onto the pitch and play against this particular team?

“Will some of his killers be in the stands? Will it be their accomplices who today celebrate on social media the murder committed by their friends? Those who curse our world and are proud of the murder committed by their fellow travelers in organized crime?…

"Is the lobbying of Croatians in the context of UEFA more important than the human life taken by the murderers? And does the good of European football demand that we get our players to play football in their den as if nothing had happened?" the statement continued.

"There is only one way: an immediate and severe punishment now! The civilized world of European football is waiting for this. Same with AEK!"

Contact the author of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1691732701labto1691732701ofdlr1691732701owedi1691732701sni@o1691732701fni1691732701