Thessaloniki and the wider Greek football community have been plunged into mourning after seven supporters of PAOK FC lost their lives in a horrific road accident in western Romania on 27 January 2026.
The group of fans were travelling by minibus from northern Greece towards Lyon in France to attend a Europa League fixture when the vehicle was involved in a devastating collision. The minibus attempted to overtake another vehicle before clipping a tanker and then colliding head-on with a heavy goods lorry, killing seven out of the ten occupants instantaneously.
The victims, confirmed as supporters of the Thessaloniki club by the Greek embassy in Bucharest, were aged in their mid-twenties, with the oldest one being 30 years old, and hailed from western Thessaloniki, Imathia and Pieria in northern Greece. Greek government officials, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed their condolences promptly and emphasised close coordination with Romanian authorities to support the victims’ families. PAOK’s president described the accident as an “unspeakable tragedy”, and the club moved quickly to offer assistance to the injured and bereaved.
As the bodies were returned to Greece, thousands of grieving fans gathered in Thessaloniki to pay tribute. Scenes of profound sorrow took place at Macedonia Airport and Toumba Stadium, where supporters lit flares, draped scarves and banners, and chanted in honour of their lost friends during an emotional farewell ceremony. Funeral services were scheduled across the weekend, with many fans and community members joining family and friends to honour the victims’ memories in both public and private commemorations.
The three survivors of the horrific crash were initially taken to hospital in Romania. Two of the injured were airlifted back to Thessaloniki aboard a specially configured aircraft sent by the Greek Ministry of Health and were admitted to Papageorgiou Hospital for continued treatment.
Of these, one survivor, a 28-year-old, is reportedly in relatively good health, with no significant injuries that pose serious concern, and, at his own request, was discharged from the hospital briefly so that he could attend the funerals of his friends who died in the crash. The second survivor transported to Greece, a 20-year-old, has sustained more significant brain injuries. His condition is now considered stable, and he does not require surgery or intensive care. However, neurologists have diagnosed him with peritraumatic amnesia, meaning he is currently unable to remember the crash itself and has difficulty with temporal and spatial orientation. He reportedly remains under close observation in the neurosurgery department.
The third injured man remains in Timișoara in Romania for further treatment after undergoing emergency spinal surgery for serious injuries shortly after the collision. As of the latest updates, he is reported to be in serious but stable condition, and arrangements are being made for his eventual transfer to Greece once it is safe for him to travel.
Across the football world, teams in the Europa League paid their respects with moments of silence and tributes, amid an outpouring of solidarity from clubs, players and supporters. In a poignant tribute during PAOK’s domestic fixture on Sunday, 1 February, supporters created a chilling moment in the 27th minute of the match. Pyrotechnics were lit throughout the stadium to symbolically honour the seven young fans who lost their lives on 27 January, marking that date as one of the darkest in the club’s long history.
