Olympiacos FC issued an urgent announcement on Thursday in the wake of high-prolife allegations that an executive from a football club in the northern city of Thessaloniki had threatened the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
Olympiacos Piraeus stresses that it has “…consistently and relentlessly condemned, and stands against, all forms of violence in society, as well as against the practice of making threats, extending to the use of blackmail by criminal elements,” the announcement states before going on to add:
“Violence has no place in Greek society or in our stadiums, and this is the firm and unwavering position of (Olympiacos’) management and its President, Mr. Evangelos Marinakis.”
At the same time, the “Reds” underscored that the team has organized top-flight matches at its home ground, as well as arranging for thousands of its fans to travel abroad to attend its matches, with huge success, earning the praise of UEFA and the competent authorities.
“This is why Olympiacos FC and its President, Mr. Evangelos Marinakis, have consistently received congratulations from UEFA and the competent authorities for the flawless organization of our games and the behavior of our fans,” the Olympiacos FC announcement stresses.
The Piraeus club also emphasizes that “in cooperation with the Super League, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), UEFA and the state, it will continue to expend every effort on a daily basis to eliminate any such instances of violence and threats, maintaining a zero tolerance policy so that its fans can turn football and sporting events into a celebration.”
The full announcement by Olympiacos FC reads:
“On the occasion of published reports citing the threats to employ hooliganism made by a football club official against a government minister, Olympiacos FC would like to state that it has consistently and relentlessly condemned, and stands against, all forms of violence in society, as well as against the practice of making threats, extending to the use of blackmail by criminal elements.”
“For many years now, Olympiacos FC has been undertaking awareness raising and prevention actions to eliminate any such phenomena from Greek football. At the same time, it has organized top-flight matches at its home ground, as well as arranging for thousands of its fans to travel abroad to attend its matches, with huge success!
“This is why Olympiacos FC and its President, Mr. Evangelos Marinakis, have consistently received congratulations from UEFA and the competent authorities for the flawless organization of our games and the behavior of our fans.
“Violence has no place in Greek society or in our stadiums, and this is the firm and unwavering position of (Olympiacos’) management and its President, Mr. Evangelos Marinakis !
