Seven Greek football fans died in a minibus crash while on their way to France to watch their team play a Europa League match.
A group of 10 supporters for the club PAOK, based in Thessaloniki in northern Greece, were in a vehicle when it collided head-on with a lorry in Romania at around 1pm on Tuesday.
Three of the fans, who were travelling to see their team play Olympique Lyonnais, were left seriously injured in the crash.
The club’s president Ivan Savvidis called it ‘an unspeakable tragedy’ as they sent representatives to Romania to provide support to the injured.
He added: ‘I am devastated by the unjust loss of young people, fans of our beloved team, who traveled to stand by our PAOK. I mourn with the families and millions of our compatriots. May God rest their souls.
‘These children, the children of PAOK, are our children, they are members of a big family. And we do everything for our family and we don’t leave anyone alone.
‘My thoughts are with their loved ones. I pray that everything goes well for those who were injured and are fighting a critical battle in these hours.’
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he was ‘deeply shaken’ and extended his ‘sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and to the PAOK community’.
He added: ‘We all share the hope that the injured will recover quickly. Our thoughts are with them.’
The crash occurred on the E70 highway in western Romania, between the towns of Caransebes and Lugojel.
Romanian authorities are investigating the incident, with Greek officials heading to the scene from Bucharest, which is seven hours away.
PAOK are third in the Greek Super League and 12th in the Europea League’s league phase.
Hundreds of supporters flocked to the club’s Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki to lay candles and scarves.
Coaches, players and club officials were also seen paying their respects to the victims of the crash.
PAOK posted a heartbreaking statement on their social media bidding ‘farewell to our children’.
It read: ‘Time stops. It freezes. Words run dry. Pain pierces through body and mind. Tears stream from the eyes. Grief overwhelms you, brings you to your knees, shatters you.
‘Another black day. Another unspeakable tragedy for the PAOK family. Farewell to our children, whose love for those four letters took them far away. That love for PAOK carried them there, left them there and moved on further, but their souls will forever rest under the wings of the Double-Headed Eagle.
‘Our deepest condolences to the families of these children. In their unbearable pain, they will not be alone. The great PAOK family will always stand beside them to ease this pain as much as possible.
‘Our thoughts are also with the injured, who are fighting their own battle. We will do everything possible so they receive the best medical care available, we will make sure they return home as quickly as possible, we will always be by their side.
‘One wish only… Never again…’
The team’s game against Lyon is still scheduled to go ahead, according to the Greek City Times.
The governing body did issue a statement, which said they were ‘standing with the PAOK family in times of grief’.
‘Sincere condolences to everyone affected by this tragic accident,’ UEFA added.
A tribute will be held at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, the French side has confirmed.
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