Seven supporters of Greek football club PAOK Thessaloniki have died after a minibus carrying fans crashed in western Romania while they were travelling to France for a Europa League match against Lyon.
The crash happened on Romania’s DN6/E70 road in Timiș County, according to reports citing Greek and Romanian authorities. The group had been travelling together by road when the minibus was involved in a severe collision. Three other people were reported injured.
What has been confirmed so far
Greek officials confirmed that seven PAOK fans were killed in the crash. The supporters were on their way to Lyon, where PAOK were due to face Olympique Lyonnais in European competition.
Emergency crews responded to the scene, and Romanian authorities opened an investigation into the cause of the collision. Early reports said the crash involved the supporters’ minibus and a heavy vehicle, but investigators are expected to confirm the final sequence of events.
Why the tragedy has shaken Greek football
PAOK, based in Thessaloniki, has one of the most devoted fanbases in Greece. Long-distance travel is a major part of European football culture, with supporters often crossing borders to follow their club.
That is why this crash has been felt far beyond one team. What began as a journey to a match ended as a tragedy for families, friends and the wider football community.
Tributes and official response
Messages of condolence were issued after the deaths were confirmed. Lyon also expressed sympathy and said a tribute would be held during the match at Groupama Stadium.
In the days after crashes involving foreign nationals, authorities usually focus first on identifying victims, informing families, supporting survivors and collecting evidence from the scene.
Road safety context
Long road trips across Europe can involve fatigue, unfamiliar routes, winter weather and heavy traffic. Safety agencies regularly stress the importance of rested drivers, seatbelts, realistic journey times and avoiding risky overtaking on highways.
For broader road safety context, the World Health Organization road traffic injuries overview explains why serious crashes remain a major public safety issue worldwide.
Romanian police are expected to continue examining the vehicles, road conditions and witness accounts before releasing more complete findings. Further updates may also clarify the condition of those injured.
For more football updates and European match coverage, visit the latest sports news.
For now, the focus remains on the seven supporters who died, the injured fans, and the families left grieving after a journey that should have ended at a football ground.
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