Seven PAOK football fans have been killed and three seriously injured in a head-on crash with a lorry in western Romania while travelling by minivan to France for their team’s Europa League match
A devastating head-on collision has tragically claimed the life of a group of football supporters today (January 27). Seven fans of the Greek football club PAOK were tragically killed in the collision with a lorry in western Romania .
The victims were travelling in a minivan to France for their club’s Europa League match against Olympique Lyonnais scheduled for Thursday (January 29). Three additional PAOK fans sustained serious injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
The group of 10 supporters was traveling through Romania in a black minivan when the accident occurred just after 1 p.m. The crash reportedly happened as the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle.
Footage has since emerged and it captures the moment the minivan moved into the opposite lane to pass, only to be confronted by an oncoming lorry. With two other vehicles occupying the remaining lane, the minivan’s driver tried to swerve but ended up directly in the path of the truck, resulting in a catastrophic collision.
The impact sent the minivan careening across the road, scattering debris over both lanes, The Sun reported. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene on the E70 highway between Caransebes and Lugoj in western Romania.
According to Romania’s fire service, they received the emergency call at 1:05 p.m. and promptly dispatched first aid, extrication, and fire vehicles to the site. Due to poor weather conditions, air ambulances were unable to reach the crash scene, according to the head of the Romanian Civil Protection.
Authorities later confirmed that seven men, aged between 28 and 30, had died, while three others were hospitalised. Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis expressed his condolences, stating:“Our thoughts are with the PAOK fans who lost their lives in Romania on their way to support their beloved team.
“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of the victims, and I wish a swift recovery to those injured.” An investigation into the deadly accident is reportedly ongoing.
PAOK FC, based in Thessaloniki, is one of Greece’s most prominent football clubs. Moreover, it has a rich history and a fiercely loyal following, especially in the north of the country.
Founded in 1926 by Greek refugees from Constantinople, the club’s full name, Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans, reflects its roots and heritage. The double-headed eagle on their crest symbolises the memory of their ancestral homeland, while the black and white club colours represent sorrow and hope.
PAOK’s home ground, Toumba Stadium, is renowned for its electrifying atmosphere, making it a fortress for the team. As one of just three Greek sides never to have been relegated, PAOK’s record is impressive, with four Super League Greece titles (1976, 1985, 2019, and 2024) and eight Greek Cups to their name.
The club’s crowning achievement came in 2019, when they completed an unbeaten league campaign and secured a historic domestic double. Currently, PAOK are enjoying strong form in the 2025-26 Greek league season, with high hopes for further success both domestically and in European competitions.
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