A MAN was seriously injured at the weekend after being attacked by a gang of balaclava-clad hooligans with bats and pickaxes outside the APOEL Football Club building in Nicosia.
The 27-year-old needed eye surgery after being hit with a stone in the violent attack against three APOEL fans by 20 men in balaclavas.
Nicosia District Court yesterday remanded a 25-year-old man in custody for eight days in connection with the case, after he was recognised by one of the victims.
Three men aged between 24 and 27 were outside the APOEL club’s building at 6.30am on Sunday when they were attacked by around 20 men in balaclavas.
The men were wielding bats and pickaxes, as well as a can full of petrol.
The three men were subjected to a vicious beating, with the 27-year-old ending up at Nicosia General Hospital with serious injuries to his left eye. He was later rushed to Makarios Hospital where he underwent an operation. He remained in a serious condition yesterday.
Meanwhile, the gang of hooligans also attempted to set fire to the APOEL building by dousing one of the doors with petrol and setting it alight. The worse was avoided, however, as the door was made of metal and the fire didn’t spread.
Commenting on the incident on Sunday, Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas expressed his growing concern, adding that Nicosia CID immediately started investigating “this extremely serious incident”.
Police gathered evidence from the scene, which was sent for forensic examination, and according to police sources yesterday, two of the victims have already testified and more arrests are on the way.
The incident was followed by an attack on an Omonia supporters’ club in Palouriotissa later on Sunday, prompting police fears of spiralling tit-for-tat attacks.
In another serious incident of football violence, on Saturday, a 39-year-old man was hospitalised after being attacked by three teenagers just before the football game between Omonia and Anorthosis.
Two 17-year-olds have been arrested for causing public disturbance and common assault, while another 16-year-old was arrested to assist investigations.
The 39-year-old had stepped in when he saw the teenagers vandalising his car, resulting in him being attacked and suffering an eye injury. He was taken to Nicosia General Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
The youths were released from custody on Sunday and are now awaiting a court hearing.
According to the Police Chief yesterday, the hooligans will face the full force of the law.
“The first arrests have already been made and interrogations continue,” said Papacostas. “We are hoping that we will soon have all those who participated in the incidents in our custody.”
Key game postponed after attack
By Jacqueline Theodoulou
THE POLICE and Cyprus Football Association (CFA) yesterday decided to postpone tomorrow’s derby between Nicosia rivals APOEL and Omonia, after a clash between fans at the weekend left a man seriously injured.
Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas requested the postponement of the Coca Cola Cup semi-final match over the phone to CFA officials, but also in writing.
The CFA announced they agreed with the measures last night after a lengthy meeting at which police told the CFA they would refuse to police the game until it was pushed back after Easter. The game will now be held on April 30.
Papacostas said the decision had been made with the public’s safety in mind. Even though it was a temporary solution, he added, more decisions would be made next week on how to step up measures and combat the phenomenon.
The Police Chief also announced that the Apollon Limassol and Anorthosis match would go ahead as normal.
Football violence and hooliganism will be at the centre of discussions in a meeting held at the Presidential Palace today, under the presidency of President Demetris Christofias.
According to AKEL parliamentary spokesman Nicos Katsourides yesterday, hooliganism was something that should concern everybody.
“It is a fact that the situation has reached its limits and it impossible for any of us not to feel angry and upset and we must all – in parallel to educational measures – support the efforts of football clubs to combat this phenomenon,” he said. “We can’t continue like this, such a small society being manhandled in the hands of hooliganism.”
DISY deputy and Chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee Ionas Nicolaou also condemned the “unprovoked and criminal attack” suffered by the 27-year-old.
“This incident confirms what we have repeatedly warned about: hooliganism and team violence, year by year, is taking on bigger dimensions and it has turned into an organised attack against people and property,” said Nicolaou.
He added that violence did not just appear out of nowhere; “it originates from extreme fanaticism, preconceptions and lack of trust”.
Nicolaou said an amendment being promoted at the House for combating hooliganism and imposing heavier penalties was at the final stages of evaluation, expected to be sent to the Plenum for approval after Easter.
