DISGRUNTLED farmers and livestock breeders stormed a major Greek airport for a kick-about – causing travel chaos for tourists.
The protesters took to the runway of Heraklion International Airport in Crete, before violent clashes broke out with riot cops.
Some activists were seen playing a leisurely game of football on the tarmac.
They appeared to be kicking a bright pink ball back and forth across the runway.
At least 10 flights have been grounded and the airports are set for huge disruptions sparking holiday travel chaos.
More demonstrators blocked Chania International Airport – the island’s second largest – injuring eight cops in the process.
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The agricultural workers were protesting the delayed payment of European Union subsidies, totalling up to massive €600 million.
Frightening scenes have emerged from the rallies.
Footage shows farmers lobbing heavy rocks at cops while they were seen peppering them with tear gas canisters.
The stone-throwing caused serious damage to the Heraklion Urban bus service as well as to employee vehicles parked nearby.
Farmers who occupied the runway at Heraklion Airport have been removed, according to local reports.
But they plan to stay on site until Tuesday morning.
More demonstrators blocked Chania International Airport – the island’s second largest – injuring eight cops in the process.
The brutal protest at Chania saw farmers allegedly overturning patrol cars.
As the violence escalated the farmers surrounded the political office of Rural Development Minister Costas Tsiaras in Karditsa, they threw animal feed at the building and are believed to have delivered a message,
Snaps from the rowdy demonstration see a long line of tractors set-up to block access from the main road leading up to the airport.
In Nakia, Greece, their blockade closed side roads off the Athens-Thessaloniki National road for two long hours.
Theses farmers are believed to be planning to shut down the ports in Thessaloniki and Volos by land and sea on Wednesday.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged farmers to lift their nationwide blockades.
Assuring the agriculturalists to expect significant payments by the end of December.
As well as addressing the EU subsidiaries Mitsotakis also acknowledged the other payments currently frozen amid a corruption investigation into agricultural aid distribution.
Mitsotakis said: “The door of the government is open. It would be better for dialogue to happen with open roads, not closed ones.”
He ordered farmers to approach the negotiations ” with clear demands” and asked that they “engage constructively.”
At the end of the week Greece’s national committee of blockades is preparing to meet in Nice to plan the next move for the farmers.
One rage-fuelled farmer said: “Little by little the escalation will not only be mild but also dynamic. As long as they do not respond to our demands , we will escalate.”
The enraged farmers are considering a move to block toll booths too, with the ones on the Rio – Antirrio bridge being top of their list.
Both airports were forced to suspend operations, however Chania is back in action with one flight departing every three hours.
Those who participated in the savage protests have been identified and will face charges, according to authorities.