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Two fans were apprehended as suspects for active participation in the unrest during the basketball game between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos on Sunday. The police have recognized the hooligans from the videos of the cameras in the closed hall of Hellinikon stadium and they are currently seeking another three people who were involved in the clashes during the basketball finals for the Cup of Greece. One of the apprehended was caught pulling out a knife while he was on the pitch. A video shows how the second person was breaking seats and throwing them at the police. The two arrested belong to the fan clubs of the two teams.

Both the teams had to interrupt the game during the finals for the Greek Cup in order for the police to be able to calm the enraged fans of the two teams and to subsequently throw them out of the hall.

The reason for the tense situation was the usual quarrel between the fans of the teams. According to Mega TV, light bombs were exchanged even while the two camps were warming up, although they were at a distance of 30 m. One of the bombs hit Panathinaikos’ player Mike Bramos without severely injuring him.

The game between the two eternal opposing teams was interrupted in the 13th minute after tensions escalated to the extreme. Double cordons of special riot forces were guarding the stands of the fans of the two enemy teams in order to avert complete chaos. However, it took the police a little over an hour to appease the spirits.

Finally, the judges decided to empty the hall. Panathinaikos beat Olympiacos by 81-78, but the team had to raise the cup to empty benches. The hall, where the finals of the national championship took place, has 7,000 seats. Of the 1,800 spectators (including the 900 persons who had came to support each of the teams) fewer than 100 people - accredited journalists and photographers, and guests with special invitations, remained in the hall after its clearing. The result of the game was 36 against 242 broken seats in the sectors of Panathinaikos and Olympiacos respectively. Dispersing the crowd also required the use of batons and small amounts of tear gas.

In addition to the hooligans, the police have announced an internal administrative investigation against 24 members of the riot police forces. They are accused of improper performance of their duties during the campaign at the stadium. People familiar with the developments there claim that they had not done enough to appease the situation more rapidly and To Vima reports that if the allegations are proven, disciplinary punishments will follow.