Greek football mourns PAOK fans killed in Romania tragedy

The Greek sporting world has found itself deep in mourning after the road tragedy in Romania that cost seven lives of the PAOK fans.

Outside the Toumba stadium at PAOK in Thessaloniki, flags were flying at half-mast as the soccer fraternity entered into condolence messages.

First among the tributes was the PAOK chairman, Ivan Savvidis, who said he was “devastated by the unjust loss of young people – supporters of our beloved team – who travelled to stand by PAOK.”

“I mourn with their families and with millions of our compatriots,” he said in a statement posted on the club’s website.

“These young people, the children of PAOK, are our own. They are members of one big family, and we stand by our family and leave no one alone.”

The club, in another announcement, said it had sent officials to Romania to meet with the authorities. It was also saying that it would cover all the expenses of repatriating the dead and injured.

The football fans were heading to France to watch Thursday Europa League match between PAOK and Lyon. PAOK reported that its petition to UEFA to have the match postponed was rejected.

But Olympique Lyonnais, which PAOK will face in the Lyon area, announced that on the day of the match, there would be a memorial event at its Groupama Stadium.

“Lyon expresses its sincere condolences to PAOK after the tragic loss of many of its fans in a traffic accident … Our thoughts are also with the injured who are currently fighting their own battle.”

In a social media post, the Panhellenic Association of Professional Football Players said “Greece is mourning. [The fans] set out to see the team they loved and never got there.”