FOOTBALL authorities and the government yesterday joined to express their disgust at the serious injuries sustained by a football fan set upon by hooligans before the weekend clash between AEL and APOEL.
APOEL fan Akis Sophocleos, 25, suffered severe head injuries after being hit with a rock and then set upon by an unidentified group before the game at Limassol’s Tsirio Stadium. The attack left him on a respirator in the Neurology department at Nicosia General hospital.
Sophocleos’ father Demetris spoke to reporters yesterday after his son had been taken off the respirator and confirmed that he had been able to speak with his son, but that his condition was still “very serious”.
Asked what his son had told him, Sophocleos said his first question to doctors had been: “What was the score?” But he would not divulge any details on the events leading to his son’s injuries for as long as the incident was under police investigation.
One man has been remanded in custody in connection with violent incidents outside the stadium.
In separate statements about the violence that marred the championship finale, football authorities, police and the Education Minister added to their sense of disgust that greater measures needed to be taken to prevent future incidents of violence both inside and outside football stadia.
Costas Hadjikakou, Chairman of the Committee Against Football Violence, confirmed that some measures had been discussed to prevent a repeat of the incidents of the weekend. Hadjikakou pointed to the introduction of identity cards as a method for controlling those who attend games in order to cause violence.
Referring to the match in Limassol, Hadjikakou apportioned some of the blame to poor handling of supporters by the police who had been entrusted with ensuring all supporters made it to the stadium safely.
“Taking into account previous incidents, the police should have made sure the buses were escorted and directed to park in the allocated areas.” He added the matter would be discussed with police in the inquiry as to what had gone wrong. Hadjikakou acknowledged that some responsibility for the trouble lay with the clubs, but questioned how they were responsible for those who turn up to matches looking to cause trouble.
However, he echoed previous statements regarding representatives of clubs making inflammatory statements in the build-up to games.
Police Chief Andreas Angelides rejected claims that police were solely responsible for the trouble and suggested that everyone involved had a responsibility for crowd behaviour at football matches. Angelides said bus drivers had not followed police instructions as to where supporters should be deposited before the game and that this had been the cause for the trouble. “Unfortunately, the easiest thing to do is to blame the police,” added Angelides, refuting suggestions that a greater police presence was the solution.
Education Minister Ouranios Ioannides proposed the allocation of greater funds for policing fans outside stadia and said the introduction of cameras and a greater police presence inside stadia had reduced trouble within grounds.
Ioannides echoed the police chief’s belief that some people attended matched just to cause trouble. He added he would suggest to the government that money allocated for police presence at stadia increase from £400,000 to £600,000 per annum.
In addition to the introduction of an ID card, Ioannides suggested a zone be set up around football stadia on match-days and that only people attending matches being allowed to enter. He also called for known trouble-makers to be banned from attending matches.
Limassol Police Chief Theodoros Stylianou stated that everything possible had been done to prevent violence and expressed his sorrow at the events that had occurred outside the stadium. Stylianou also rejected criticism of the police for the incident, deflecting responsibility onto the clubs for ignoring the advice given to them at meetings before the game and for bus drivers ignoring instructions.
Stylianou explained that “approximately 1,500 APOEL fans had been dropped off at a roundabout en route to the stadium instead of being deposited at the entrance designated for the away supporters. As a result APOEL fans had come into contact with AEL fans, which lead to the trouble.” Stylianou added that a 62-year old teacher had his jaw broken by APOEL fans while trying to calm rival supporters down.
The game was drawn 1-1. As a result, APOEL were crowned champions and AEL were guaranteed a place in Europe.
