WHAT HAPPENED AND WAS NOT BROADCASTED
The Structure “February 1st, 2022 – In the Name of Alkis” was at the Panthessaliko Stadium during the Greek Cup final and, just a few meters away from the notorious pedestrian bridge, performed the following action of high symbolism:
Six (6) of our members, fans of Aris and Panathinaikos, hung two (2) banners on the stadium fences with the messages:
- SPORTS UNITE – THEY DO NOT KILL
- ALKIS, YOU LIVE AND YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
Subsequently, we watched the crucial match for both teams TOGETHER—a match that decided a title and participation in European competitions—anxiously supporting our respective teams.
At halftime, beneath the pedestrian bridge where seven (7) years ago some attempted to take yet another life in the supposed name of their teams, we honored all the victims who lost their lives due to fan violence.
We recited the names of these individuals one by one and left a lit candle in their memory. These fifteen (15) candles in total remained lit over an Aris jersey with the number 19 and a Panathinaikos scarf. This gesture took place in front of the banner SPORTS UNITE – THEY DO NOT KILL.
We would like to share perhaps the only hopeful feeling we experienced during this entire adventure, as we tried to carry out an action that was self-evident (for us) but perceived as inconceivable and of an almost extraterrestrial nature (otherworldly) (…) by nearly the entire spectrum of institutional bodies of the official Hellenic State:
When, after the end of the match, we embraced each other—and the winners traveled to Athens happy while the defeated returned to Thessaloniki disappointed—we felt as if we were embracing our brothers, because what we experienced was exactly what we wanted to shout with all the strength of our souls:
SPORTS AND THE LOVE FOR OUR TEAMS UNITED US.
