I don’t know if the international sports community got together to try and steal headlines away from Pacman Jones, but if they did: well done… its working. Murder mysteries in the world of cricket and now someone else is dead following a riot in Greece… before, not after, a women’s volleyball match between rival clubs.

Amateur videos of the violence, broadcast on Greek television, showed scores of people arriving at the scene on scooters before clashing with rival supporters, wielding bats and knives, and hurling petrol bombs and rocks. Police arrested 13 at the scene, seizing knives, flare guns, brass knuckles and other weapons, and three more were arrested later.

So Greece’s reaction was to suspend all team sports matches, but I’m not really sure that’s necessary, because really… if you end up stabbing someone because of a women’s volleyball match I really think the stabbing was inevitable… match or no match.

The clashes occurred before a Greek Cup volleyball match between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos.

Both clubs support teams in soccer, basketball and other sports, and rival supporters in the past have clashed at various sporting events.

Police on Friday raided 15 supporters’ clubs of Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, and homes of prominent club members, seizing dozens of makeshift weapons including pick axes, iron bars and baseball bats.

Honestly, I am yet to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but if this is what goes on in Greece I really need to get over to Blockbuster fast. Its really strange too, the cultural differences between the US and Europe. In the US, its the players who are packing heat, stabbing folks, and getting into fights… of course in Europe its the fans. I prefer our system… I’d rather not get stabbed the next time I walk into Safeco wearing my A’s gear.. but that’s just me.

• Greece suspends sports after fan death (AP)
• Brawl halts team sports in Greece (BBC)