Bad Blue Boys

The release of a further 10 Croatian nationals accused of their involvement in soccer-related clashes in Athens in August on the eve of a European qualifier match between hosts AEK and Dinamo Zagreb was ordered by a Greek court on Monday. 

The number of accused Dinamo Zagreb fans that have been released, or will imminently be, now stands at 40. 

The dozens of young Croatians detained for their roles in the violent clashes on August 7 which led to the death of 29-year-old Michalis Katsouris deny they are members of the so-called Dinamo Zagreb ultras Bad Blue Boys (BBB), notorious for hooliganism, according to their testimonies to Greek judicial authorities, seen by Kathimerini.

Football hooligans from Greece, Serbia and Croatia have wrought havoc in Athens ahead of Wednesday's UEFA match.

With the UEFA Champions League match between Olympiakos, Greece, and Dinamo, Croatia, scheduled for Wednesday, militant football fans have already started conflicts.

Croatia's footballers beat Malta on Tuesday and qualified for the Euro 2016 tournament finals in France, but some fans and media have not been sharing in the sporting enthusiasm - instead, they have been boycotting the team.