The EuroBasket 2025 semifinal between Greece and Turkey was a game charged with nearly a century of sporting rivalry. Turkey delivered a stunning performance, dominating Greece with a final score of 94-68 to advance to their first final in 24 years. The match was defined by Turkey’s defensive mastery, which completely neutralized Giannis Antetokounmpo and left the Greek squad frustrated.

Following the decisive loss that ended Giannis’s tournament, a video quickly surfaced online that captured the intense emotions spilling over outside the arena. The clip showed that the competition on the court was only part of the story, as the long-standing animosity between the two fan bases reached a boiling point after the final buzzer.

The video was shared by BasketNews on X with the caption, “A scuffle broke out outside the arena following the game between Greece and Turkiye 😳 #EuroBasket.” The footage shows a chaotic scene with fans from both sides engaged in a heated physical altercation. Chants and shouts can be heard as security personnel rush to intervene and separate the clashing groups.

The tension was undoubtedly fueled by the shocking nature of Turkey’s victory and Greece’s disappointing exit. Greece committed a costly 14 turnovers in the first half alone, which Turkey converted into 17 points. Giannis was held to just 12 points, a stunningly low output for the tournament’s reigning MVP, while Turkey’s Ercan Osmani exploded for a career-high 28 points.

This ugly incident underscores how the passion of international sports can sometimes overflow, especially in a rivalry as deeply rooted as this one. The game’s result was clearly too much for some fans to handle peacefully, transforming the aftermath into a disappointing scene of conflict rather than celebration.

Why Greece vs Turkey is EuroBasket’s fiercest rivalry

The rivalry between Greece and Turkey is nearly nine decades old and began on June 25 1936 in Istanbul when the first official meeting ended 49 to 12 in Turkey’s favor. That long history means every meeting carries weight beyond the scoreboard because fans and media treat the matchup as a national moment. Over the years both countries have had highs and lows and the head to head record reflects that ebb and flow. Greece leads the series overall by a healthy margin but each game writes a new line in a long story.

Icons and moments from different eras have fueled the fire. In the 1980s Nikos Galis elevated Greek basketball and created unforgettable showdowns against Turkish opponents, while more recent stars and coaches from both countries have added new chapters. Greece’s EuroBasket campaigns of the 2000s and the dramatic 2009 quarterfinal are part of the folklore. On Turkey’s side players like Hedo Turkoglu and modern performers such as Alperen Şengün and Ercan Osmani have provided their own big moments that keep the rivalry fresh and personal.

The rivalry goes beyond basketball and sometimes mirrors political and cultural tensions between the two nations. That background adds intensity when teams meet because national pride and historical context ride alongside sport.

Fans travel in large numbers for these games which raises the emotional stakes in arenas and public squares. Tovima reported that there were 2000+ Greek fans against Turkey at the 2025 EuroBasket semi-finals. When passions peak the atmosphere can be electric and occasionally volatile which is why security and event planners treat Greece Turkey fixtures as events that need special management.

Modern meetings keep the rivalry alive with high stakes and big name matchups. The 2025 semifinal in Riga was a clear example because it featured Giannis Antetokounmpo and a Turkish roster loaded with EuroLeague talent.

Turkey’s tactical success and crowd energy produced a result that will be talked about for years and the outside scuffle that followed reminded everyone that this is more than a game for many supporters. The matchup will return to headlines whenever these nations meet because history guarantees that it will matter on and off the court.