Due to concerns over fan violence, the Greek Cup final will take place without regular supporters in attendance.
The country's soccer federation attempted to find a venue abroad to avoid this issue but was unsuccessful.
Next month’s final between AEK Athens and PAOK will be held in the central city of Volos with a reduced number of spectators attending by invitation only, Greek Football Federation deputy director Stergios Antoniou said Tuesday.
This decision has been a source of concern for the federation, as the cup final is meant to be a celebration of football. Initially, the federation had planned to hold the match in Cyprus, but this plan was rejected by local authorities due to concerns over security.
The federation had also sought alternative venues in England, Germany, and Australia. Fan violence has long been a problem in Greek professional soccer, and referees from other European countries have been brought in to officiate major league games in recent years.
