Verbal threats and violent attacks against foreign football players

Alert DateJanuary 19, 2011 Country: Greece Address: Piraeus General Type: Racist violence, Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Sport

Related Case Studies

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Albanian, French
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age 26-35
Victims Number 6
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 12
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

On 19.02.2011, a highly charged Athens Derby on Saturday night between arch-rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, ended in scenes of players being attacked by fans and has led to calls for the Greek FA to take action against racism.

Olympiakos fans charged onto the pitch at the final whistle as Panathinaikos players were attacked. About a dozen fans went after Djibril Cissé and three other players.

The Frenchman later made it clear he will not tolerate racism. “I was their target. Some of them hit me and I retaliated to defend myself,” he said. “It’s a disgrace. I’m not going to let things lie. This season the atmosphere in the stands has got worse. Twice already, I have been the victim of monkey chants, of racist insults. It was the same thing again on Saturday night. “They managed to get inflatable bananas into the stadium that they were shaking around every time I touched the ball”.

Djibril Cissé was verbally threatened earlier this year, during a football match between Skoda Xanthi and Panathinaikos, where Skoda Xanthi's fans were pronouncing racist slogans against him.

This kind of incidents are also reported in other sports. During a juniors handball match, fans verbally threatened two Albanian players. They also entered the court to assault them.

Source:

Farenet.org, 22.02.2011, http://www.farenet.org/default.asp?intPageID=7&intArticleID=2420

Sportdog.gr, 15.04.2011, http://www.sportdog.gr/article/24545/eipan-ohi-ston-ratsismo-photo

In.gr, 13.01.2011, http://www.inews.gr/22/exigiseis-ston-eisangelea-gia-ta-ratsistika-synthimata-dinei-i-xanthi.htm

Sentragoal.gr, 23.02.2011, http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10553&subid=2&pubid=113806722