Shocking footage emerged showing the moment a van carrying Greek soccer fans shattered into pieces after colliding head-on with a truck in Romania, killing seven supporters of PAOK Thessaloniki who were
traveling to watch their team play in France.
The dramatic video of the crash, which occurred during an attempted overtaking maneuver, shows the van breaking apart on impact as debris scattered across the highway. Three other passengers remain in critical condition following the tragedy on the road to Lyon, where PAOK was scheduled to face the French club in a Europa League match.
The footage captures the devastating moment the fan van attempted to pass another vehicle before crashing into an oncoming truck. The force of the collision caused the minibus to disintegrate, with pieces of the vehicle breaking off and flying across the roadway in the high-speed impact.
Tragedy in Romania: A van carrying fans of the Greek club PAOK crashed into an oncoming truck after attempting an overtaking maneuver
Seven people have died, and three others are injured and in critical condition
The victims were traveling to France to support their team in an… pic.twitter.com/WZQviGU4Rq
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) January 27, 2026
PAOK Thessaloniki is one of Greece’s biggest football clubs, based in the northern city of Thessaloniki. The fans were making the long journey from Greece through Romania to Lyon, France, to support their team in a Europa League fixture- European football’s second-tier club competition after the Champions League.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed shock and grief over the accident, saying, “Deeply shaken, I was informed of the tragic accident in Romania that cost the lives of seven young compatriots. The Greek government and our embassy are in close coordination with the local authorities, providing every possible form of support.”
“In these difficult moments, together with all Greeks, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and to the PAOK community. We all share the hope that the injured will recover quickly. Our thoughts are with them,” the prime minister added.
Club president Ivan Savvidis called it “an unspeakable tragedy.”
“I am devastated by the unjust loss of young people, fans of our beloved team, who traveled to stand by our PAOK. I mourn with the families and millions of our compatriots,” he said. Supporters’ associations for rival clubs including Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, and Aris issued messages of condolence.
