Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Greek Football Federation condemns fans for Srebrenica massacre banners

Greek fans pictured holding the offensive banner during Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.
Greek fans pictured holding the offensive banner during Sunday’s World Cup qualifier. Photograph: Twitter/@BiHFootball

The Greek Football Federation (EPO) has condemned a section of their fans after they held up offensive banners referring to the infamous 1995 Srebrenica massacre in the World Cup qualifier on Sunday against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The game, which featured a bizarre sending-off, ended 1-1 after a dramatic late equaliser for Greece. That will have pleased the EPO but, in a statement issued on their official site, they have apologised on behalf of the fans who displayed the banners with the words “knife, wire, Srebrenica” written on them.

More than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) were murdered by units of the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica in 1995 during the long-running Bosnian War.

The EPO stated: “The Greek Football Federation deeply regrets the unacceptable banners containing fascist content during yesterday’s match between Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which we condemn in the most absolute and unequivocal manner. These actions by a minority of supporters do not express in any way the views of the vast majority of Greek fans.

“The Greek Football Federation feels obliged to apologise on behalf of the minority involved to the Football Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the friendly people of that country.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.