FC Groningen manager Dick Lukkien expressed serious frustration following a goalless friendly against Greek side Volos, citing repeated aggressive play that marred the pre-season encounter at BV Veendam's stadium. The Eredivisie club's frustration stems from a second consecutive difficult match against Greek opposition, prompting the manager to question whether future pre-season fixtures against teams from that country should continue.
The 0-0 draw itself offered little in terms of attacking quality. Groningen forward Thom van Bergen squandered two clear opportunities, missing gilt-edged chances both before and after the interval. However, the scoreline became irrelevant as the match descended into controversy. Left-back Tyrique Mercera was struck during play, while Volos midfielder Hamza Mendyl launched a dangerous kick at Jorg Schreuders, incidents that epitomised a pattern of ill-discipline.
Pattern of Violence Across Greek Fixtures
The Volos clash represented the second troubling encounter in as many weeks. Seven days earlier, Groningen faced AEK Athens in similarly fraught circumstances. During that encounter, defender Pelle Clement absorbed a heavy blow, while midfielder Felipe Relvas was on the receiving end of a reckless tackle from Travis Hernes. The accumulation of these incidents has now prompted genuine reflection at boardroom level.
When questioned by RTV Noord about facing Greek teams in next season's pre-season schedule, Lukkien made his position unmistakably clear. "We should not want this again next year," he stated candidly. "Apparently, if you come from Greece as a football team, you do very strange things, make very strange fouls." The manager added that Groningen's bench staff were visibly perplexed by the pattern, questioning whether accepting such conduct should remain part of their planning process.
Lukkien's reservations reflect legitimate player welfare concerns, a priority increasingly central to modern football management. Groningen's next warm-up fixture brings a change of scenery, with Spanish side Real Valladolid visiting Euroborg on 1 August. That match will be followed by the club's Eredivisie opener against FC Utrecht at the same venue a week later, marking the beginning of competitive action for the 2024-25 season.
