The government rolled back from its earlier decision to suspend all football matches indefinitely and instead called a suspension for just one week that will only affect the Super League.

The decision came under the condition that authorities and clubs will adhere to promises given for containing violence.

After his second meeting with prime minister Alexis Tsipras, deputy minister for sports Stavros Kontonis announced that the Super League action of this coming weekend is suspended, but all other leagues and cups will carry on as scheduled.

“The decision of the government regarding the combating of violence is definitive and irrevocable,” he said.

“It is impossible to tolerate business interests developed in the field of sports because this runs counter to sports and the fans. All that happened in match at [the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos], where it was only thanks to a miracle that we did not have any fatalities, as well as everything that happened at the board meeting [of the Super League] have created a terrible atmosphere.

“Under these circumstances it is impossible to have games played this Sunday. I have stressed to the football authorities in our meeting that the law providing for fan clubs must be enforced.”

The minister confirmed that they would meet with the sport’s representatives and the authorities next week to see if there has been enough progress made.

He didn’t shy away from saying the suspension will continue if the situation remained the same.

Mr. Kontonis has asked the League to enforce the use of electronic tickets, to eliminate the fan associations and turn them into clubs, to install cameras in all stadiums as well as a number of other measures.

According to Greek law the government can only force a one-week suspension each time. Already this Super League season has been suspended twice for one week each time.

Late this week fierce clashes were reported at Lamia in the second-division match between the local club and Anagennisi Karditsas where a number of people were injured.

It follows clashes in a Super League meeting after the president of Olympiakos reportedly hurled a glass of water at his Panathinaikos counterpart, Yiannis Alafouzos, and a bouncer allegedly punched Panathinaikos vice-president Vassilis Constantinou in the face.

The league was suspended previously after a fan was killed in clashes during a third division game and from a violent attack that saw a referee official seriously injured.

Source: Kathimerini