The risk of division spilling over from the stands

Sunday's events at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki will have repercussions well beyond the soccer pitch, as the law dictates that the action will now unfold in the country's sports and criminal courts. What is at issue here is not just be the fate of PAOK, but also the pitch invasion by its armed owner, Ivan Savvidis - a tangible illustration of the oligarch's belief that he is above the law. The danger here is that this whole issue could turn into a political screaming clash, regardless of which team is granted the league title by a court decision. Worse, it could sow division between north and south.

The phenomenon is not new, but this is the first time that we have seen politics invade the pitch to such an extent since the end of the 1967-74 junta. On the one hand, there is widespread belief - whether justified or not is irrelevant - that the leftist-led government is...