CYPRUS was yesterday still taking stock of a night of football violence that left one dead, 27 injured and six arrested after the highly-charged match between AEL Limassol and APOEL on Saturday.
The repercussions of the violence have been dire, especially for the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), which has faced mounting pressure in past months to clean up the image of the game, which, apart from crowd violence, includes debt-stricken clubs, virulent racism and huge problems with referees.
But Saturday’s events have seen Cypriot football hit rock bottom, with the death of 43-year-old Rapid Reaction Unit Sergeant (MMAD) Marios Malekkou, who suffered a fatal heart attack during violent clashes between fans and police after Saturday’s game.
The violence occurred when AEL fans clashed with MMAD officers as they were leaving the stadium. AEL officials claim MMAD officers overreacted when a small fire broke out, but police dismiss those claims, saying they came under heavy attack from AEL fans hurling bricks and bottles at them.
Scenes captured on television showed riot-clad MMAD officers closing in and using force against fans. Tear gas was also used, while supporters pelted police with bricks, bottles and Molotov cocktails. Cars were also torched and house windows smashed.
It was at the peak of the violence that Malekkou suffered a fatal heart attack.
According to state coroner Nicos Charalambous, Malekkou’s heart attack was induced by stress and fatigue during the violent scenes. He had a history of heart problems.
The 43-year-old Sergeant, who leaves behind a wife and three children, was carrying an injured MMAD officer to an ambulance when he fell unconscious to the ground. He later died at Limassol General Hospital.
Eleven fans and 16 MMAD officers were also injured and rushed to hospital
According to one AEL fan, APOEL fans and police were entirely to blame. He told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that APOEL fans began chanting provocatively towards them before setting fire to seats and then pelting a fire engine sent to extinguish the fire with stones and bottles.
“It was unreal. The APOEL fans just ran amok in the stands and the police and MMAD units did absolutely nothing. They were provoking us the whole game and they got away with it. When we turned our anger against the police for not doing anything about it, they went berserk and started to attack us,” he said.
Not surprisingly, an APOEL fan had a different view.
“These are just excuses to cover up the hooligans wanting just to cause trouble with the police. It is true that some people, although only a few, set fire to some chairs and then attacked the fire engine, but that was not a reflection of the majority of APOEL fans who simply turned up to support their team. But you cannot link the burning of a few chairs to the clashes that occurred after the game between the AEL fans and the police.”
AEL and APOEL have one the biggest feuds between two clubs on the island. The violence dates back to a long-term vendetta between supporters of the two sides who frequently clash when the two sides meet.
Before the game, police inspecting both the outside and inside the stadium discovered 103 Molotov cocktails and 18 smoke grenades. Tension ahead of the game were fuelled by announcements from fanatical supporters of both clubs. One announcement circulating in Limassol called on all hardcore supporters of AEL to unite and attack the travelling APOEL fans, known as the ‘Portokali’ (Orange)
“You orange sons of whores! You will die, death to the last orange supporter, we want your passports should you dare to come you cowards.
“Calling everyone to come to the Tsirium on Saturday night, we must make them feel what yellow hell is all about. Their only exit will be the sea.”
The latest arrest occurred yesterday when police, acting on television footage, arrested a 36-year-old man in Limassol on charges disturbing the peace, throwing objects onto a sports field, causing the disruption of a sports game and using a dangerous object.
According to police, the man was caught on film throwing a flare onto the pitch during Saturday’s game.
Police are also investigating reports that APOEL fans attacked a kiosk owner inside the ground during the game and stole everything he had.
Stadium officials said yesterday that damage at the ground totaled £1,182. Chairs, metal doors, water pipes, electrical appliances and toilet facilities were damaged during the violence. Police officials have also announced that electronic equipment including computers were looted from the stadium during the riots. The stolen equipment is believed to be worth around £4,000.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw and there were no incidents on the pitch.
