
<p>The 2023 Greek Cup Final could be set to be played outside of the Mediterranean country due to concerns over fan safety. According to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12075757/Crystal-Palace-open-hosting-Greek-Cup-final-despite-fears-ultra-fan-clashes.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Mail</a></em>, the Greek Football Association is apparently frantically searching for a venue to host the game. AEK Athens and PAOK will feature in the match after advancing through the knockout stages. </p>



<p>The two clubs have a long contentious history, as the matchup is referred to as the Double-Headed Eagles Derby. This is a reference to the teams use of a double-headed eagle as their emblems. AEK’s logo features the eagle in yellow and black. PAOK, on the other hand, have the emblem in traditional black and white colors.</p>



<h5>PAOK president previously interrupted match with gun</h5>



<p>In one of the derby’s most infamous incidents, PAOK club president Ivan Savvidis ran on to the pitch with a gun during a 2018 matchup. Savvidis was apparently furious after Fernando Varela’s goal was disallowed late in the game. The fixture was eventually abandoned after the AEK players refused to continue play as they feared for their safety.</p>



<p>Police were then involved a year later during the 2019 Greek Cup Final. The cops used batons on disruptive fans near of the stadium. PAOK went on to win the trophy. However, the match was played behind closed doors to prevent any incidents inside the stadium.</p>



<h2>Crystal Palace chairman open to hosting Greek Cup Final</h2>



<p>Despite concerns, the <em>Sun</em> has claimed that Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is receptive to hosting the fixture at his club’s arena. Selhurst Park is located in south London and has a maximum capacity of just over 25,000 fans. The Eagles have three games remaining on their schedule, two of these will be at home.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the upcoming Greek Cup Final would not interfere with Palace’s current home fixture list. The AEK-PAOK matchup is set for May 24. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> side’s final two home games are on May 13 and May 28.</p>



<p>Another option could be to play the game behind closed doors. Cyprus turned down hosting duties with public safety in mind. Then, reports emerged the game may be simply <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/greek-cup-final-be-held-greece-without-fans-greek-fa-2023-05-12/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">without supporters in attendance</a>.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>


Premier League side Crystal Palace my be set to host the upcoming Greek Cup Final in south London between AEK Athens and PAOK.

Crystal Palace may host 2023 Greek Cup Final

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<p>Athens (AFP) – Greek authorities on Monday called on UEFA to ban Marseille supporters from the Europa Conference League match at PAOK Thessaloniki on Thursday.</p>
<p>“The General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki submitted a written request to the competent authorities for a ban on organised and individual movement of Marseille fans, in view of the match with PAOK at the Toumba Stadium,” a press release from the Ministry of Citizen Protection said.</p>
<p>In the first match between the two teams in Marseille there were serious incidents between fans, both around the stadium and in the French city.</p>
<p>Thirteen people, including three Greek fans, were arrested and placed in custody in connection with incidents before and during the match on Thursday, the Marseille public prosecutor’s office said Friday.</p>
<p>Marseille is defending a 2-1 lead.</p>
<p>UEFA opened a disciplinary investigation on Friday against the two clubs.</p>
<p>The Greek ministry said that Marseille fans have been banned in the past in other international away matches of the French club.</p>
<p>According to the press release, the Minister of Citizen Protection Takis Theodorikakos communicated on Monday with the UEFA Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis, a former official at Athens club Olympiakos, and the Deputy Secretary General Giorgio Marchetti.</p>
<p>“The minister asked that the request of the Greek police for the preservation of public order and the protection of the socio-economic life in Thessaloniki be accepted,” the press release said.</p><p></p>


Greeks seek ban on Marseille fans for PAOK match - World Soccer Talk

Greeks seek ban on Marseille fans for PAOK match

<div id="attachment_168781" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/paok.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-168781" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-168781" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20160428_WST_168780_paok-600x400.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=400" alt="Photo credit: AFP" width="600" height="400" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/paok-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/paok-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/paok-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/paok.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a><p id="caption-attachment-168781" class="wp-caption-text">Photo credit: AFP</p></div>
<p>PAOK failed to show up for their Greek Cup semi-final second leg away to Olympiakos on Wednesday as they promised and now face more disciplinary action from the country’s football federation.</p>
<p>The move by the Thessaloniki club had been pre-announced by Greek-Russian owner Ivan Savvidis, who was angry after they were punished for crowd violence during the first leg on March 3.</p>
<p>PAOK were fined 100,000 euros (£78,000; $113,000), docked three points from next season’s Greek Super League and ordered to play three matches behind closed doors.</p>
<p>The Greek federation will most likely now deduct three more points from PAOK and slap them with a heavy fine for not showing up at the Karaiskakis Stadium in the Athens port of Piraeus.</p>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/embed/LRxHlYemdTU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>The refusal to show up means Olympiakos will be awarded an automatic 3-0 win and will go on to face AEK in the final at the Athens Olympic Stadium on May 7 in an attempt to win the double.</p>
<p>Olympiakos had also been awarded a 3-0 win in the first leg, which was abandoned in the 89th minute when PAOK fans invaded the pitch and dozens of flares and smoke bombs were thrown from the stands.</p>
<p>In that match, Olympiakos had been leading 2-1.</p>
<p>Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis took the radical measure of cancelling the Cup after the incidents for fear of violence in upcoming contests, a move which angered the Greek federation, FIFA and UEFA.</p>
<p>Pressure from FIFA forced Kontonis to back down on his decision with a compromise that the remaining matches be played behind closed doors.</p>


PAOK fail to show for Greek Cup semi-final - World Soccer Talk

PAOK fail to show for Greek Cup semi-final

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Crystal Palace may host 2023 Greek Cup Final

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Greeks seek ban on Marseille fans for PAOK match

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PAOK fail to show for Greek Cup semi-final