Greek football matches will be held behind closed doors until February 12 in a bid to stamp out violence at sporting events announced by the government on Monday.
The decision came after a police officer was seriously injured last week when rival fans clashed during a volleyball match in Athens, the latest in a series of incidents in the country.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the measure could also be extended “on a case-by-case basis to European matches involving Greek teams.”
High-resolution cameras and electronic entry systems to verify fans’ identities will also be installed in all stadiums, according to the government.
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“Over several years, criminals posing as fans have committed serious crimes, seriously injuring and killing people,” Marinakis said.
A volleyball match between Greek rivals Olympiacos and Panathinaikos was canceled today, Thursday, due to a fight breaking out between fans outside the court.
A 31-year-old police officer was taken to hospital in “critical” condition after being struck in the thigh by a fire bomb.
Police detained more than 400 people for questioning, most of whom were released on Saturday.
An 18-year-old was arrested Sunday for allegedly shooting at a police officer, seriously wounding him. He will appear in court later this week and faces a charge of “attempted murder.”