Violence halts Greek Cup clash between PAOK and Olympiakos

Crowd trouble forced the Greek Cup semi-final between PAOK and bitter rivals Olympiakos to be called off in the final minute.

PAOK fans threw flares and clashed with riot police on the pitch before the match was stopped in the 90th minute with defending champions Olympiakos leading 2-1.

Violence broke out after the home side were denied a late penalty when Robert Mak, who had opened the scoring, appeared to be brought down by Olympiakos keeper Stefano Kampino.

The referee showed Mak a second yellow for diving and the decision sparked a mass pitch invasion from enraged home fans, who fought running battles with police before tear gas was used to disperse the crowd.

Olympiakos, whose coach Marco Silva struck in the back by a plastic cup, came from behind after Mak's ninth minute opener, with Luka Milivojevic and Esteban Cambiasso netting for the visitors before halftime.

PAOK face a heavy fine as well as the possibility of being forced to play matches behind closed doors, while Olympiakos will now be awarded an automatic 3-0 victory to carry into the second leg on 6 April.

However, the PAOK's owner Ivan Savvidis has threatened not go to Piraeus to play the second leg unless the first leg match called off Wednesday is not replayed with a foreign referee. 

"In front of a stadium filled with 30,000 spectators these people do not fear God or the devil. Criminal prosecution against refereeing provoking violence should be taken," an angry Savvidis said in an interview with OTE-TV. 

"In such matches a foreign referee should be used and if the federation doesn't have money for him, PAOK can bear the costs. For the first time in my life and watching all this I am ashamed that I connect myself with Greek football," Savvidis said. 

Savvidis also called for the resignation of the executive board of the Greek football federation as well as Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis to leave football "for his unacceptable conduct." 

Olympiakos' official comment on Savvidis' statements was: "We do not deal with the delirium of Mr. Savvidis."