Greek government suspend football after fan violence at Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos and a club boardroom brawl

Greece's new government has suspended the top three tiers of Greek football indefinitely for the third time this season

Football in Greece has been suspended indefinitely after the government took action following fan violence during a match between fierce rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos.

The move also follows a brawl that occurred between club officials at a board meeting on Tuesday which saw the encounter abandoned.

A government official, who asked not to be named, informed the Associated Press that a decision has been taken to suspend the Super League as well as the next two highest tiers of Greek football.

The action followed weekend violence at a league match between rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, and a brawl between club officials Tuesday at a board meeting of league organizers.

The Greek league has already been suspended twice this season because of football-related violence.

Stavros Kontonis, the deputy minister for sport in Greece's new left-wing government, previously told private Skai television that the league would not start next season unless all 18 clubs introduce smart-card ticketing and security camera systems at matches.

The ruling will not have an effect on Olympiakos' Europa League last-32 clash with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, which is due to be held at the Karaiskakis Stadium near Athens on Thursday with the Ukrainian side holding a 2-0 aggregate advantage.

Uefa confirmed to The Independent that the game "will go ahead as scheduled".

Additional reporting by AP