AEK Athens and Athens Kallithea honored murdered supporter Michalis Katsouris before their friendly match at Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfia on Saturday.
Saturday marked three years since the murder of Katsouris. The club also paid tribute to Kostas Liakkas, a long-serving employee at the AEK Athens training center in Spata who died recently.
Before kickoff, flags at Allwyn Arena flew at half-mast, and an image of Katsouris appeared on the stadium matrix screens. Players and staff from both teams gathered in front of Gate 21, where organized supporters of AEK Athens are located.
Both teams presented bouquets of yellow roses at Gate 21 and observed a minute of silence. Players from AEK Athens wore black armbands during the match, while supporters displayed a giant banner reading Michalis lives.
Tribute at Nea Filadelfia
The pre-game ceremony put competitive focus on hold before AEK Athens played its final friendly match before official fixtures begin. The team is preparing for the Super Cup final against OFI and upcoming Champions League Playoff matches.
