The observer from the Committee on Combating Violence (DEAB) ignored the letter of the law, which provides for punishment for throwing firecrackers, but he also ignored the spirit of the law, as in a packed Toumba Satdium, in a derby match of high intensity and with a negative development for our team, not the slightest incident was noted. So, instead of encouraging the perfect behavior and cooperation of the fans, we are punishing something that the law does not even provide for, apparently to prove that the awkward measures of the Deputy Sports Minister were not just a hypocritical «hole in the water».

And obviously Mr. Vroutsis should know that the people to whom he gave powers are the same team fans, such as Aristides Bekos who was the DEAB observer in the said PAOK-Olympiacos match and a simple check on social media is enough for every ignorant person to understand, because he is exhausting his margin of power against PAOK.

Everyone must realize the following: we are making a titanic struggle to have the supporters as an ally in the effort against violence and we are succeeding. Our crowd showed tremendous restraint and put up with suffering in order for the team not to be penalized. We try to eliminate even subtle movements that give the Bekoses of this world the right to be sheriffs on our backs. However, we will not tolerate the State continuing to put obstacles in our way with irrationality and inequality in decisions. We will immediately challenge the decision in the administrative courts and hope that common sense will prevail. We once again call on our fans to understand that we are fighting against everyone, to stand by us and to be a shield for the club.

P.S. The deputy minister of sports has the easy task of proving himself better than a predecessor who – having failed to do so at the deputy minister of sports – is now cutting Greece in two by angering the farmers. So far, even this low bar seems to be impossible for Mr. Vroutsis to exceed.