Clashes, arrests, and the use of tear gas were reported in Larissa, following a protest by AEL fans against Achilleas Davelis.
Scenes of intense unrest unfolded on Monday night in Larissa, following a rally by AEL against the management of Achilleas Davelis, in the wake of developments surrounding the ownership status of the team.
The protest took place a few hours after the announcement by AEL FC, according to which the owners appear willing to transfer, without financial compensation, the share package of the team to solvent investors who will take over the club.
Larissa: From the rally to the clashes
After the conclusion of the rally in the city center, tensions escalated when a group of fans moved toward the homes of the Daveli brothers, causing serious clashes.
Significant forces from the Hellenic Police were deployed to the scene, were deployed to the scene, which proceeded to use chemical agents and stun grenades in order to restore order. At the same time, detentions and arrests were carried out by the police, while the tension later spread to central areas of the city, around the Central Square.
Davelis: Terrorism and Absurdity
Following the events, Achilleas Davelis issued a detailed personal statement, condemning what had happened and speaking of the greatest display of “miserable conditions, terrorism and absurdity” that Larissa has experienced in recent decades.
The powerful figure at AEL claimed that for months he has been subjected to abusive attacks and harassment, citing “organized local crime,” while accusing the city’s institutional bodies of remaining silent in the face of these acts of violence.
At the same time, he recalled that the management announced the transfer of the team’s shares of the team to a reliable investor without financial compensation, expressing his surprise that this initiative did not defuse the tension.
Mr. Davelis called on the government, the Minister of Citizen Protection and the local authorities to take a public stance and condemn the events, while also requesting protection for his family and property.
In his statement, he further argued that the motives of those who led the riots are not soccer-related but “political and class-based,” referring to organized action by groups that, as he noted, use soccer as a pretext.
In closing, he emphasized that he will remain in Larissa and will continue to defend the honor, reputation, and contribution to the local community, expressing his belief that the city deserves “a better tomorrow.”
