Court frees bus driver after soccer riot

A BUS DRIVER from Limassol arrested in connection with weekend soccer riots was released yesterday after a court rejected a police plea for him to be remanded.

Meanwhile, a further four youths are expected in court in Larnaca today in connection with the same incident.

The bus driver was arrested on Monday because, police said, he had opened the bus door for hooligans to get out and smash shop windows in the village of Xylophagou, in the Famagusta district.

The fans were returning from a football match at Paralimni.

Police had asked the court to approve a remand order for two days, but the court dismissed the application and ordered police to release him.

The trouble in Xylophagou followed riots at the Paralimni stadium after the end of Sundays football game between the local team and Omonia of Nicosia, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Furious Omonia fans invaded the pitch in protest at the way the referee had handled the game.

The home side’s two equalisers were both controversial, coming from a contested penalty and a suspected offside. Omonia also had another two goals disallowed for offside.

Five policemen and two Paralimni fans were injured during the trouble. One of the two fans suffered a serious injury to his right eye.

There was also extensive damage to the stadium facilities, and to cars and motorbikes parked outside.

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