Greece clamps down on sports hooliganism

Greece will clamp down on violence at sports events after a 19-year-old soccer fan was killed in what was believed to be an attack by rival supporters.

Planned reforms include tightening rules over the operation of soccer clubs, imposing heavier penalties and increasing police controls.

Alkis Kampanos was beaten and stabbed to death outside Aris Thessaloniki club’s stadium on February 1.

He and two other males were attacked by a group of people on the street, reportedly after a brief brawl over the team they supported.

The attack has shocked locals.

ANASTASIS: “We can't get over it, we can't sleep. We are awful, the whole family, I have a 17-year old grandson who wears the jersey all day; we are afraid now. I am 72 years old and I have been going to the stadium since I was eight, we never had these things. We have become a jungle."

DIMITRA KONTOU: “Sadness, sadness, for the unjust loss of this young man. It was an unjust loss, he was not to blame for anything, they didn't even know him, it was a big sin."

In Greece, fights between soccer fans and clubs are frequent before or after a game.

It is not uncommon for a match to be disrupted by crowd trouble or a pitch invasion, despite the heavy fines imposed.

Authorities have in recent years repeatedly promised to clean up the game.

Greek government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said the government would submit a bill reforming the sports sector to parliament in the coming weeks.

"Combating violence among youths and football fans is our obligation to the Greek society and the younger generation, but also to the healthy sports community and the millions of proper fans in our country. In the last two years there have been significant steps, the government will continue in this direction, and we expect everyone in society to contribute to eliminate sports violence".