Greek soccer fans jeered, tried to burn U.S. flag during minute's silence for terror attack victims The Associated Press 9/22/01 2:23 PM

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EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- Fans of a Greek soccer club tried to burn the American flag and jeered during a pre-game tribute in Athens in honor of the victims of last week's terrorist attacks, witnesses said.

A minute's silence was held before all 77 European soccer games played this week. But some AEK Athens fans jeered Thursday, soccer coach Alex McLeish of the Scottish club Hibernian said.

"When I first heard all the shouting and jeering, I thought it was their way of doing the minute's silence. Then I was told by someone who said: `Look, they're burning the American flag,"' he said Saturday upon returning to Scotland.

"I could not believe such anti-American feeling in a European country."

Several hundred fans booed and jeered during the minute's silence before the UEFA Cup game, some chanting "Americans, killers," according to Greek reports.

One group set fire to an Israeli flag, and others tried to burn an American flag but couldn't get it to light.

Greek officials could not be reached for comment.

"What went on in Athens disgusted me," McLeish said. "With what happened last week, innocent people of all nationalities in America, anyone would show respect."

"What badly disappointed me was that there was no effort made by anyone, the police included, to do anything about it.

"It is so disappointing that people do not have respect for human life -- no matter what creed, color or nationality," McLeish said.

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-- Anonymous, September 22, 2001