UEFA’s Ceferin calls on Europe to end ‘cancer’ of soccer violence

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin gives statements with Greek Prime Minister after their meeting at Maximos Mansion, Athens, Greece, on Wednesday. [Alexandros Beltes/EPA]

UEFA president Alexander Ceferin urged Europe on Wednesday to help eliminate hooliganism, which he called "the cancer of football", days after a man was killed in clashes before a match between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb in Greece.

After a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, Ceferin said that the problem was Europe-wide and cooperation was needed to avoid a repeat of such incidents.

"This is the cancer of football and those are not football fans," Ceferin said, using the European name for soccer. "We came to a position where we have to say enough… we have to stop this.

"Violence and hooliganism are not only a Greek problem," he said adding European countries, institutions and media had to work together to help end football violence.

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