THERE were bitter recriminations yesterday in the wake of a weekend soccer riot that claimed the life of police officer Marios Malekkou and saw 27 people injured.
The violent clashes that took place after Saturday night’s football match between bitter rivals AEL Limassol and APOEL Nicosia saw AEL fans battle police and officers from the rapid reaction unit, MMAD, resulting in scenes of pandemonium. The 43-year-old victim was a member of MMAD, who collapsed with a heart attack as riot officers tried to quell stone-throwing crowds.
Yesterday, AEL chairman and AKEL deputy Ayis Agapiou launched a scathing attack on police for the violence, which unfolded some 20 minutes after the final whistle.
“When the incident took place, all the AEL fans were leaving the ground and the fans of APOEL had already left. The police overreacted because at one point something insignificant occurred and all hell broke loose. People should not be so one-sided against AEL.”
Agapiou blamed police “overreaction” for the incidents, comparing Saturday’s clashes to scuffles that occurred a few months when MMAD officers and reporters clashed during a truck drivers’ demonstration in Vassiliko.
“For AEL, the answer as to why this happened is simple. The police treated us the same way they treated the journalists that time in Vassiliko.
“We are not seeking excuses because that will not help the current problem in football. But it is apparent that the person responsible for organising safety at the game did not do a proper job. As the fans were leaving and things were relatively peaceful, a minor incident prompted the police to overreact and use force against supporters.”
Agapiou said he would be reporting the matter to the Ombudswoman.
Chief of Police Tasos Panayiotou dismissed Agapiou’s claim, saying the police had handled the situation very well considering how much they were outnumbered. Panayiotou added that AEL did not do enough to ensure their fans left the stadium peacefully.
“The incidents that took place during the game had absolutely nothing to do with what followed 20 minutes after the game finished. Mr Agapiou spoke about the ‘peaceful departure of the AEL fans’. Didn’t he see the television footage of the AEL fans breaking down walls and hurling large pieces of cement towards police officers guarding the changing rooms?
“How can people be expecting around 300 to 400 police officers perfectly to control a crowd of around 20,000 people? This cannot be achieved unless other parties get involved. Knowing that the APOEL fans would be leaving first, AEL officials should have taken steps to control their fans. We want action from everyone and it should not just be the police battling hooliganism at football games.”
