A BURNLEY fan was stabbed ahead of Clarets’ Europa League play-off first leg tie with Olympiakos in Athens.

The supporter needed treatment for a wound to the leg at the ground, while four other fans were injured and were treated at the scene. All five had made their way to the stadium seperately from the buses laid on by Burnley Football Club.

Three of the fans were beaten up and robbed.

The club are now working with Olympiakos and the Greek police to investigate the incidents.

A total of 23 Clarets fans were also arrested for being drunk and disorderly in the city centre ahead of boarding coaches to the Karaiskakis Stadium.

A Burnley Football Club spokesman said: "Burnley Football Club has praised the behaviour of the travelling support who followed the Clarets to Athens.

"Just over 900 supporters were inside the away end of the George Karaiskakis Stadium for Burnley's Europa League tie at Olympiakos.

"The vast majority were once again impeccably behaved with the coaching operation to transport supporters to the ground put in place by the club again a great success, as it was in the previous round in Istanbul.

"However, five of our supporters were unfortunately injured – including a person who received a stab wound to the leg – and received medical attention at the stadium.

"Those injured all travelled independently to the stadium, outside the organised travel operation.

"Burnley Football Club is working closely with Olympiakos and the local Greek police to investigate these incidents."

There was no trouble inside the ground during the game.

Lancs police officers were in Athens to support local policing operations with intelligence and evidence-gathering around travelling fans.

Costs incurred deploying the officers will be met by the football club.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said four officers from Lancashire were in Athens.

The spokesman said the policing operation is being 'continually reviewed' ahead of next week's game.

Officers were present in Turkey as Sean Dyche’s team drew 0-0 away to Istanbul Basaksehir.