Greek Volleyball Riot suspends all team sports in Greece for two weeks
 

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2007/...an-killed.html

The Greek government suspended play in professional soccer, basketball and other team sports for two weeks Friday after a fan was killed in a volleyball riot.

The ban lasts until April 13.

A man was killed and five others were hospitalized Thursday when fans from rival women's volleyball clubs Panathinaikos Athens and Olympiakos Piraeus fought near Athens.

"Violence in sport is something that affects our entire society … and cannot be tolerated," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said Friday.

Several dozen fans on motorcycles clashed with rival supporters, hurling petrol bombs and rocks. At least two cars and three stores were damaged, police said.

Eighteen youths were detained by police.

Police said a 25-year-old man died of head injuries before reaching the hospital.

The clashes occurred before a volleyball Greek Cup match between rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos.

Both clubs have major teams in soccer, basketball and other sports, and rival supporters in the past have clashed at various sporting events.

There's a headline I never envisioned.

That kind of explains it - it's more of a "club riot" than a "volleyball riot". The latter is a better headline though.

When I was in Greece I bought a Panathinaikos shirt and wore it around Athens. Had at least 20 people come up to me and start talking because of it. Lots of fun. Olympiakos is in Piraeus, which really is almost a borough of Athens and where the port is located. I didn't wear the shirt there.