As reported by gazzetta.gr a few days later, AEK FC sent a letter to police headquarters, raising the issue of the unreasonable use of chemicals in a densely populated area.
They demanded that all police operations taking place around the stadium be in line with the planned tactics for dealing with problems of violence and lawlessness, which must respect the citizen and his property, without abuse or overuse of power and without the excessive use of repression.
Reports describe the subsequent match taking place in an atmosphere dense with chemicals, causing women to faint and children to cry, and generally causing breathing problems amongst fans.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the action and functioning of the police authorities must be governed by certain principles, including the principle of legality, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition of the abuse of police power,and the respect for and protection of human rights.
The powers of the police authorities and the conduct to be displayed by them in the performance of their duties are regulated, inter alia, by Decree 141/1991 and Decree 254/2004.
Although the police may use force to enforce the law, this does not mean that all use of preventive or repressive force by the police is lawful. On the contrary, the arbitrary use of the power to use force and police action in excess of legal limits is a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
The extensive use of chemicals by police forces against AEK fans on this occasion, seems to be beyond the legal limits of police action.
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