ATHENS: Greek football was thrown back into chaotic uncertainty again today after the government ordered the suspension of the top three league divisions indefinitely.

The move followed the latest outbreak of violence at Sunday’s clash between old rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, as well as a brawl between club officials at a board meeting on Tuesday.

The league has already been suspended twice this season because of violence which has been identified as an issue to resolve by the newly-elected ruling party Syriza.

Greece’s sports minister, Stavros Kontonis, met the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

Greek league president Giorgius Borovilos said: “What we have been informed is that the Super League and the Football League have been suspended indefinitely,

“We have a new government who are looking to bring this subject up for discussion and implement state laws related to it. The government wants games to start again as soon as possible, but for that they want to see immediate reactions from all of us.”

Fans hurled flares, rocks and bottles at match officials during Panatahinaikos’ 2-1 win on Sunday but the league’s emergency executive meeting was then called off after a Panathinaikos official claimed he had been punched by Olympiakos security personnel.

Matches in the professional divisions were previously halted in September and November last year.

The first suspension was caused by the death of a fan after clashes between supporters of third-division teams Ethnikos Piraeus and Irodotos. The second sanction followed an assault on the assistant director of the refereeing committee.

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