27th anniversary of AEK Athens football match in Belgrade during the 1999 NATO bombing

On April 7, 1999, AEK Athens played a football match against Partizan Belgrade at the Partizan Stadium in Serbia. The event took place during the NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Organized by Dimitris Melissanidis, the match was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Serbian people. The delegation traveled to Belgrade despite the lack of official security guarantees during the conflict. Reports indicate that while 40,000 tickets were sold, approximately 15,000 spectators attended the match due to the dangerous conditions. Prominent figures, including Greek politician Manolis Glezos, were part of the traveling group. The match ended in a symbolic draw before being interrupted by fans entering the pitch. Both sides emphasize the event as a significant historical gesture of international support.