FIFA delegation heads to Greece over football unrest

Athens, Greece: FIFA is sending officials to Greece to discuss football unrest, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday, amid a gun controversy that prompted the indefinite suspension of the championship.

FIFA director for Europe Bjorn Vassallo said a delegation would travel to Athens later Tuesday to discuss the latest crisis, which began on Sunday when the president of Greek club PAOK, Ivan Savvidis, stormed the pitch with a holstered gun strapped to his waist.

"FIFA demands an uncompromising and robust approach in exterminating all forms of violent acts in football," Vassallo said in a letter to Greek deputy minister for sport Yiorgos Vassiliadis.

Greek-Russian businessman Savvidis apologised for his actions Tuesday, but the European club association said it was suspending PAOK as a member with immediate effect.

"I am very sorry over what happened. I clearly had no right to enter the field of play in this fashion," Savvidis said in a statement.