Greek soccer match abandoned after player hit by flare

The highly anticipated Greek Super League clash between fierce rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos took a dramatic turn as the match had to be abandoned due to an unfortunate incident.

In the 53rd minute of the fiercely contested derby, a substitute player was struck by a flare, leading to the suspension of the game with the score tied at 1-1.

The victim of this unfortunate event was Juankar, a Spanish defender from Panathinaikos, injured by a firecracker while warming up on the sidelines. The incident prompted an almost two-hour delay before the decision to abandon the match was made.

Panathinaikos took to social media to inform their fans about the situation, stating, “Juankar is injured on the ground. Play is interrupted, and our team has retreated to the dressing room.”

Reports from Greek news outlet Protothema indicated that a doctor initially found no visible external injuries on Juankar. However, Panathinaikos, concerned about a potential ear injury, insisted that the 33-year-old defender undergo further examinations. Consequently, as reported by Greek sports radio, Juankar was transported to the hospital.