Burnley football fan stabbed in leg during Europa League clash in Greece
.More than 900 Clarets supporters attended the match at the George Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, which saw the visitors suffer a 3-1 defeat.
A Burnley football fan was stabbed and four others injured during the side’s Europa League clash with Olympiakos in Greece.
Burnley said the fans, one of whom suffered a stab wound to the leg, were given medical treatment at the stadium.
Twenty-two Burnley supporters were detained following disorder at the match but were later released without charge.
More than 900 Clarets supporters attended the qualifying play-off first leg at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, which saw the visitors suffer a 3-1 defeat.
A statement from the club said: “The vast majority were once again impeccably behaved, with the coaching operation to transport supporters to the ground put in place by the club again a great success, as it was in the previous round in Istanbul.
“However, five of our supporters were unfortunately injured – including a person who received a stab wound to the leg – and received medical attention at the stadium.
“Those injured all travelled independently to the stadium, outside the organised travel operation.”
Burnley said they were working closely with Olympiakos and local police to investigate the incidents.
A club spokesman said: “A group of 22 supporters were detained by police ahead of the game for offences relating to drunkenness, in breach of Greek legislation.
“They were detained, rather than arrested, and released later on Thursday night without charge.”
Alan Beecroft, who runs the Colne Clarets supporters’ club, said the stabbed fan managed to get treatment and watch the game after the incident.
Speaking from Athens, Mr Beecroft said: “All I know is that they made their own way to the ground, not with the supporters’ club transport, and a taxi driver dropped them off at the opposite end of the ground to the Burnley fans.
“They were attacked, as were some other lads as well, and robbed.
“The lad who was stabbed did watch the game after he had been treated.”
Mr Beecroft said the “late” kick-off time – because Greece is two hours ahead of UK time – meant fans had more time to drink, with police in Athens making 22 arrests for drunkenness.
Mr Beecroft, 65, who was on his honeymoon while attending the match, added: “They could probably have arrested another 200.
“The problem being it is 9pm at night for the kick-off, people had had enough.
“The last two hours of drinking (before kick-off) has wrecked some.
“People were well and truly stuck into the beer already at lunchtime.”
