Greek authorities have banned the sale of paper tickets for all league soccer matches as part of an effort to crack down on the violence that has plagued the sport for decades.
ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities on Tuesday banned the sale of paper tickets for all league soccer matches as part of an effort to crack down on the violence that has plagued the sport for decades.
Under the new rules, fans will be able to enter stadiums using their mobile phones and display a government-issued QR code, which will allow their identity to be identified and bans to be enforced.
Stadiums have been closed to spectators for two months, with safety measures likely to be overhauled after a police officer was killed by smoke bomb during fan riots in Athens in December. .
Starting Tuesday, fans will have to buy tickets online and authenticate their purchases using a state-run app used to pay taxes and access online government services.
Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papasterzio said the complete phase-out of paper tickets would last for one month. He said exceptions would be made for minors and seniors, adding that the new system would be extended to other sporting events from the summer onwards.
“The goal is also to reduce the need for the Greek Police to send hundreds of police officers to the stadium. There will no longer be a need for police at the entrance to the stadium,” Papastergio told state-run ERT television.
The minister said 10,000 of the 80,000 current commuter pass holders have already switched to the new electronic system.
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