Panathinaikos defender Juankar hit by firework causing abandonment of derby at Olympiacos

Panathinaikos say defender Juankar was taken to hospital and suffered a loss of hearing, after he was struck by a firework from the crowd which led to the abandonment of their derby at Olympiacos.

The Greek Super League match between the fierce Athens rivals, which is nicknamed the ‘Derby of the Eternal Enemies’, was level at 1-1 when the game was called off early in the second half.

Former Spain under-21 international Juankar, who is also known as Juan Carlos, was hit by the object while warming up on the touchline. His club claims the firework was thrown from the home end and “exploded”.

The defender was said to be “in a daze” and had a “problem with his hearing” before he was stretchered off and taken to hospital for tests. The game was called off by the referee in the 50th minute.

The incident happened shortly after Olympiacos had equalised through Mady Camara, after the visitors took the lead in the first half.

It is not yet known when the game will be replayed, or if the match will resume from the same minute it was abandoned.

The derby has a history of being abandoned, the most recent being in 2019 when Olympiacos were awarded a 3-0 win when the game was called off in the 70th minute.

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