Greek police officers face up to 20‑year prison terms over 2019 football riot

Twenty‑nine police officers from the Aetolia‑Acarnania and Aetolia‑Akarnania directorates were ordered to appear before the investigating magistrate in Mesologgi to answer criminal charges stemming from violent clashes after the May 29 2019 football match between Omilos Neochori and Athletic Union Mesologgi. The officers are accused of aggravated intentional bodily injury for the severe head and body injuries suffered by a woman, who later claimed partial hearing loss, during the riots.

The disturbances erupted when supporters of the home team attacked police and rival fans after their team’s defeat, using stones, fireworks and makeshift weapons. Police responded with flash‑bang grenades, CS‑type tear‑gas grenades and other crowd‑control measures, which the prosecution alleges were excessive and directly caused the woman’s injuries. The aggravated assault charge carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, an unprecedented level of prosecution for such a large group of officers in Greece. The magistrate has scheduled the first hearings in successive batches, with fifteen officers already testifying.