Who incites violence at PAOK’s Toumba home field?

It doesn’t really matter whether Razvan Lucescu understands the seriousness of his statements, or, whether he was merely attempting to energize his team’s fans.

Essentially, his inflammatory statements aim at creating a “combat atmosphere” and “hellish welcome” for Olympique de Marseille fans in Thessaloniki, behavior now considered as unacceptable in modern European football.

Both clubs square off in the quarterfinals of the Europa Conference League, with Marseille winning the first match 2-1 on Thursday at home.

It’s quite simple, there’s no place in modern football for inciting violence. The Romanian coach’s statements merely added another negative chapter of publicity for Greek football, especially ones associated with PAOK.

It wasn’t too long ago that images were broadcast around the world showing PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis invading Toumba pitch to try and overturn a referee’s call – and with a handgun tucked in a holster on his belt in full view.

At the same time, Lucescu’s incitement shouldn’t be considered as an “isolated incident”. Instead, the inflammatory statements reflect a climate created amongst a portion of PAOK’s fans – a climate that cultivates and fuels hooligan violence.

Yet there’s no discernible effort to stem this very negative development; to change attitudes; to stop this vicious cycle of violence.

Two years ago, we mourned the death of Bulgarian national Tasko Bozadziski, a fan of PAOK’s rival, Aris Thessaloniki. Only a few months ago, Greek public opinion was shocked by the fatal stabbing of young Alkis Kabanos, who was accosted by a gang of PAOK hooligans on a street.

What’s happening in Thessaloniki at the moment points to a constant exhortation towards hooligan violence.

Whatever “official” statements aired from time to time to urge for the opposite and to condemn violence “from every direction” can’t really conceal the fact that real no genuine measures are being taken to stop violence from breeding in the stands.

Quite the opposite, in fact, is taking place. Instead of measures and initiatives against hooligan gangs, we’re “treated” to statements like the ones by coach Lucescu.

The explosive climate now plaguing the city is starting to affect institutions in Thessaloniki, preventing an effective combatting of the phenomenon of fan violence; one that cultivates a constant conflict along the lines of “us” and “them”, one that divides the very country.

This climate, above all, cultivates a situation where would-be murderers are ready to kill over a “wrong answer” to the question “what team do you back?”

Does anyone care to deal with this situation?

Does anyone want to take measures?

Does anyone want to attribute responsibility to team officials, managements and “fan clubs”?

Does anyone want to deal with the stance of police, prosecutors and judicial officials?

Or, will we again shed “crocodile tears”, hold meetings and announce more “initiatives” to announce a latest round of “measures”? Ones that will never be implemented, with public opinion merely awaiting, in fear, for the next hooligan-related homicide.