Agressive AEK Fans Attack 5 Local Politicians Over Soccer Stadium Construction

Not one, not two but FIVE Nea Philadelphia (or Halkidona) municipal councilors were hospitalized late on Monday night, after a group of AEK FC fans barged into the council hall to protest the construction of the soccer stadium in the area, a report in the To Vima newspaper said.

Nea Philadelphia Mayor Aris Vasilopoulos said that the hooligans interrupted the council meeting and vandalized the room, and then and demanded that the stadium construction be discussed (even though it was not on the agenda). The mayor informed the fans of a scheduled meeting with fans representatives on Tuesday to discuss the issues in a calm and civil environment.

Vasilopoulos then went on to name councilor George Arapoglou as the instigator of the violent act.

Since the attack, a number of news sites and newspapers allied with AEK cultivated tension with the municipal authority, calling the mayor a “Trojan horse” for “continuing the war against AEK”.

On his part Vasilopoulos had called the council to denounce the rejection of the Forest Directorate’s report regarding an adjacent grove. The current plans for the construction of the AEK FC soccer stadium requires that many trees will be cut down. This has angered many local residents and although they initially supported the construction of the stadium in the area, they are now objecting to the project because they do not want these trees cut down.

One big mess - And a normal day in Athens!