In an effort to cut down on violence amongst unruly fans at soccer and basketball games in Greece, the country is set to introduce a new system of personalized tickets and ID cards for its sporting leagues. Starting this season, tickets issued for home games of the Atromitos, Ergotelis, Levadiakos, and Panionios football clubs will feature personalized ID information including the card holder’s name, attendance record, seat number, and a bar code.

Other clubs will join the ID program over the course of the season. The goal is to bring a more family-friendly environment to professional soccer games in Greece. Escalating violence at these games has become an unfortunate trend. By instituting a program to ID all fans in attendance, it will be much easier for police to positively identify those responsible for any violent incidents. A similar ID program will also be used for those purchasing tickets to topflight basketball clubs such as Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, and PAOK.
For season ticket holders, an electronic “Sports Fan’s Card” will be issued. This card will contain the cardholder’s photo and personal info, which will also be entered in a national fan database. All season ticket holders for professional soccer and basketball leagues in Greece will be required to carry the card.