Olympiacos sent a stern warning to their supporers for the Europa League clash after their match with Panathianikos was abandoned on Sunday night
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West Ham greeted by sinister five-word banner from notorious Olympiacos fans
West Ham were greeted with a huge banner declaring: “Tonight You Dine In Hell” before their Europa League clash with Olympiacos.
The Hammers players arrived with a police escort amid huge security in and around the sold-out Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in the port city of Piraeus.
The infamous Gate 7 end started booing and whistling the police when they entered the arena - and then the Premier League players during their pre-match pitch walk 90 minutes before kickoff.
The atmosphere was cranked up with heavy metal music, incluing Highway to Hell. Despite requesting a swap of ends, West Ham had their warm-up on the half of the pitch in front of Gate 7 and the tifos-tyle banner - with a picture of an ancient Greek soldier kicking an opponent - as the two teams walked out.
The quote is taken from the bloodthirsty film 300 where the Spartan leader Leonadis, played by Gerard Butler, tells his troops the night before getting slaughtered: “Tonight we dine in Hell”.
There was also a mural of a grim reaper on a wall outside the stadium. And earlier in the day, the Twitter account of Gate 7 International fan site posted a picture of the West Ham squad looking into the burning cauldron of the stadium accompanied by the caption: “You’re Not In England Anymore”.
Back in 1993 Manchester United were greeted with the banner “Welcome to Hell” at Galatasaray before a tumultuous Champions League tie which saw Eric Cantona sent off before the Red Devils were knocked out.
West Ham were greeted with this banner by Olympiacos fans (
Image:
AP)
Police and UEFA had feared trouble before the Group A clash and West Ham officials were advised not to wear club uniform when not on duty in Athens this week.
Olympiacos’ home game against Athens rivals Panathinaikos was abandoned on Sunday night when a firecracker hit an away player while warming up on the touchline. The derby against AEK Athens was marred by crowd trouble last May - and a pitch invasion led by fans from the Gate 7 end.
On Wednesday, the Greek league leaders took the extraordinary step of urging their fanatical fans not to commit any acts which “might hurt our side” in the clash against the Hammers.
“Use of laser pointers, smoke flares, firecrackers and throwing objects, along with blocking staircases and entry points might lead to our stadium being banned,” said a club statement.
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It did not stop Olympiacos Ultras, who were in the stadium on Wednesday, shouting, spitting and throwing rolls of sellotape at the English press on arrival for the pre-match press conference.
Hammers boss David Moyes had appealed for good behaviour from both sets of fans before kickoff. “What we’ve got to remember is football is a game,” said the Scot. “We’re seeing so many things happening throughout the world just now. All we want is a good football game.”
Travelling West Ham fans were banned from the first away game in Freiburg this season following trouble at the Europa Conference League final and the club was also given a two-year suspended sentence.
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