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In the wake of violent clashes that led to the death of a Greek fan earlier this month, UEFA has imposed a ban on Dinamo Zagreb fans from attending all away European football matches this season. The decision comes hot on the heels of Dinamo's exit from the Champions League, which saw them return to Greece for a delayed second leg of a qualifier against AEK Athens.
This match, initially slated for Aug. 8, was rescheduled after the tragic passing of 29-year-old Michalis Katsouris, a consequence of the severe unrest near the AEK stadium.
The Athens conflict led to the detainment of nearly 100 Croatian citizens on serious charges, ranging from murder and assault to involvement in a criminal organization. It's worth noting that the Dinamo fans had made their way to Athens, even when UEFA had forbidden the club from selling tickets due to security concerns surrounding the game.
Addressing the growing concern over soccer-related violence, UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin engaged in discussions with the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in Athens. The organization stressed that all future Dinamo matches are now categorized as "high risk," a label underscored by the severe incidents in Athens.
In response to these developments, UEFA has mandated Dinamo, in collaboration with Croatian political, security, and football entities, to create and execute a plan aimed at eliminating soccer-related violence connected to their club.
However, fans of teams lined up to compete against Dinamo, such as Sparta Prague this Thursday, can still access their ticket allocations for matches in Zagreb. UEFA emphasized that both Dinamo and concerned authorities need to prioritize the security of visiting fans. Dinamo's upcoming face-off with Sparta in the two-leg playoff will determine which team progresses to the Europa League's group stage. Despite this, Dinamo is guaranteed six additional matches, split evenly between home and away, from September to December.
During the recent match against Dinamo, AEK managed a last-minute 2-2 draw, securing a 4-3 aggregate score to move into the Champions League playoffs. The game witnessed a poignant moment as AEK's Croatian defender, Domagoj Vida, refrained from celebrating a goal against Dinamo's goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic, his long-time teammate from the Croatian squad. This match also saw AEK fans raising a banner featuring an image of the late Michalis Katsouris.
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