Reports from Thessaloniki suggest that three Red Star Belgrade fans have been hospitalised with stab wounds after a major pitch battle took place early on Thursday at a Thessaloniki café a few hours before the Aris vs Red Star match for the UEFA Cup.

On Thursday morning several Red Star fans were at the “Garcon” café bar-restaurant on the city’s seaside when about 10 people wearing balaclavas and motorcycle helmets and carrying wooden sticks and knives attacked them. People who were present suggested there was an open battle with chairs flying and some men getting stabbed.

Hospital sources suggested three Serb men are being treated with leg injuries from knives, but are not in danger. However, a police source said one of the men was seriously injured.

More incidents of fans clashing have been reported in the city since Wednesday evening, with two more Serbs treated after getting injured by unknown people.

UEFA had deemed this group stage fixture at the Kleanthis Vikelidis stadium a high-risk game.

This is not the first time such incidents have taken place between Greek and Serb fans, as last year PAOK basketball fans were attacked by Red Star fans during the two club’s ULEB Cup match in Belgrade.

Red Star fans are affiliated to those of Olympiakos in Greece, while their Belgrade rival Partizan fans are affiliated to PAOK fans. Police believe the attackers could be PAOK fans.

Aris president Lambros Skordas stated he is not deterred by the incidents: "Some fans of other clubs have their own reasons to spoil our party. The party is on, though, regardless of the final result and we are not backtracking on that."