TOP officials from Nicosia’s two main football clubs, whose fans were involved in violent scenes around a crunch derby match on Saturday night, yesterday condemned the incidents but said there was little more they could have done to prevent them.
The derby between arch-rivals Omonia and APOEL saw fights and damage to property in and around the GSP stadium, before, during and after the match.
Omonia won the game 1-0, with a penalty by striker George Vakouftzis. The match was considered crucial for the championship, with the two teams, together with Limassol team Apollonas, head to head for the title.
Saturday’s game, though not as eventful as most derbies between the teams, was marred by several violent incidents.
At around 5.40pm on Saturday, before the game had even begun, police had to intervene to prevent Omonia fans approaching APOEL fans in their section of the stadium. During the scuffle, a police officer was injured and taken to Nicosia General Hospital, where he was treated for bruises and abdominal pains.
In another incident, at around 9.50pm on the same day, police arrested a 32-year old man from Nicosia for hurling stones outside the stadium. The man was charged and released.
On Sunday morning, two Nicosia residents contacted police to report damage to their cars. The first car was parked near the GSP stadium. The second was damaged when the owner came under attack from APOEL fans as he was driving away from the stadium.
In another incident, a Nicosia resident who had parked his car near the GSP, reported his car stereo and wallet containing various documents stolen.
Meanwhile, at around 5pm on Saturday, a fight broke out between rival fans on Tseri Avenue in Strovolos.
The incidents caused extensive damage to a man’s car. The man was apparently involved in the fight and appeared to have been injured. He refused to report the crime in writing, and his car was taken to a Nicosia police station.
Also on Saturday, at 4pm, a 46-year-old contacted police to say that while he was driving passed the APOEL club in Nicosia, a number of APOEL fans approached his car and started kicking it and throwing objects at it, causing damage estimated at £200.
APOEL general manager Marios Georgiou said yesterday his club had always condemned football violence and would continue to do its best to limit such incidents.
“We are in constant contact with fan organisations and the police in an effort to limit violent behaviour,” he explained. “But of course, with the 20,000 fans that attended last Saturday’s game, it is very hard to keep discipline.
“But considering the amount of fans and the two teams’ previous history, the match didn’t have as bad an outcome as it could have had.”
Omonia General President Koullis Georgiou said yesterday that in an attempt to discourage violent behaviour among Omonia’s fans, the club had spent the week prior to the game holding meetings and making public recommendations to avert any problems.
“But from the moment that we are dealing with young people, then this is not just a football-related problem but a general social problem,” he said.
“Preparations for the game were made in a way that wasn’t provocative and didn’t inflame the situation. At least we know that on our part, our fans were well behaved and didn’t do anything to cause any major problems,” Georgiou said.
Following a severe outbreak of violence between fans of AEL Limassol and APOEL last November, Justice Minister Doros Theodorou had announced a team of club representatives, deputies, sports officials and police would travel to Britain in January, to discuss ways of combating growing hooliganism on the island. A police officer suffered a heart attack and died and 27 people were injured in the Limassol riot.
The decision followed meetings between the Minister and British High Commissioner Peter Millet, who offered Britain’s experience in tackling soccer violence.
But according to Georgiou of APOEL, the club has not yet been informed of progress on the plan. “We are still waiting to be informed so we can send a representative,” he said.
Justice Minister Theodorou was unavailable for comment.
