Top-flight match in Greece descends into a BRAWL after a fiery derby as police are forced to intervene and manager faces lengthy ban for grabbing someone by the neck
- AEK Athens manager Matias Almeyda grabbed someone by the neck
- His team lost 3-2 to PAOK in a derby that later resulted in ugly scenes
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AEK Athens manager Matias Almeyda was involved in a heated brawl after a fiery derby against PAOK resulted in ugly scenes after the final whistle.
In embarrassing chaos in Greece, AEK lost 3-2 to their rivals in a crucial match in the Super League title race and the result lit the spark of a chaotic altercation.
Almeyda was captured on camera expressing his anger at full-time before becoming involved in a scuffle as a small crowd of bodies gathered around the dugout.
The 50-year-old was seen pushing Sergio Araujo, his own player, and a substitute and then confronted a number of people, forcing police to intervene.
PAOK’s Taison and several AEK coaches tried to stop Almeyda, but were unable to do so as he wriggled away and grabbed another person by the neck.
AEK Athens manager Matias Almeyda was involved in a brawl after a fiery derby against PAOK
Almeyda was seen grabbing a person by the neck before being pulled from the fight
Eventually, Almeyda was dragged out of the fight and the flare-up disappeared.
According to Greek publication Sportal, the man apparently smothered by Almeyda was an official working for the Subdirectorate for the Prevention of Sports Violence.
During his post-match press conference, Almeyda spoke about the brawl and revealed that he had apologized to the person he grabbed by the neck.
He said, ‘Did you see how many people were in the stadium? What I always say is that if we want to change the situation in Greek football, there cannot be so many people. There is no one at AEK matches. So who protects us on the field?
‘It really doesn’t matter to me whether they are PAOK people or others, I just think people should be more respectful. I respect the world and I want the same.
After the argument was over, Almeyda apologized to the unnamed person he had grabbed.
The coach now risks a three-match sideline ban after the disgraceful scenes
‘When I see injustice being done, I respond. I am a man, blood flows through my veins. I’m not going to change the way I am as a person.
‘I respect everyone, whether I play indoors or outdoors, and I want to be treated as a human being. I hope we don’t all have to be angry about something that happened on the field. Before I got some pushes.
“If you push me, I’ll do the same. Because I don’t push, I talk. I accept defeat and criticism, but I don’t let anyone challenge me. It’s easy. If what I did is bad, then so be it.”
Almeyda now risks a sideline ban of a maximum of three matches.