Stavros Kontonis

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The leftist Greek government appears on a collision course with world and European soccer's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA over plans announced on Thursday to tackle violence in domestic sport.

Five people were taken to hospital after a group attacked a TV crew ahead of a match at Greece's second-tier Football League at Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki. Those attacked worked for cable TV channel OTE TV.

Tough new legislation to combat soccer violence was unveiled in a draft bill by the leftist Greek government on Friday.

"We unveil the sports legislation with emergency measures to combat violence and within the next few days we shall have a discussion and a vote in parliament on the bill," said Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis.

By George Georgakopoulos

The Super League will suffer another round of games without fans at the stands as Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis announced late on Wednesday the extension of the fan ban for all teams in the top flight to this weekend, in the wake of the pitch invasion at the AEK vs Olympiakos Cup game a few hours earlier.

By George Georgakopoulos

The Super League clubs agreed on Monday to a blueprint of proposals for combatting violence in soccer grounds and will present it to Deputy Minister Stavros Kontonis to ask for the top flight to return to action this weekend after a one-week suspension.

The Greek government reversed its earlier decision to suspend all football action for indefinite period and instead announced one-week suspension of the top football Superleague.

The suspension is on the condition that authorities and clubs will abide by the promises to combat violence, daily Kathimerini reports.

The government has announced the indefinite postponing of the country’s pro football championships. Undersecretary of Sports Stavros Kontonis announced the measures to representatives of football bodies, while he clarified that the leagues games will begin when various anti-hooliganism measures are applied.

Alternate Minister for Sports Stavros Kontonis is mulling the idea of suspending professional soccer as a response to the latest turmoil in the sport.

This follows a pitch invasion by Panathinaikos fans on Sunday before their team?s 2-1 win over rival Olympiakos, which was followed by complaints from the Greens that the Reds? officials angered the crowd.

Although government officials were due to hold a late night conference call with troika representatives on Thursday night, it was the opposition party that was beginning to show signs of strain.