POLICE have been given a handbook on how to deal with high-risk football matches as the new season looms this weekend.
Furthermore, efforts are being made to speed up court proceedings, so swifter exemplary and deterrent punishments can be imposed on hooligans.
These are just part of the force’s measures that hope to put an end to football-related violence, which has been gradually getting worse in recent years.
The lack of arrests, and delays in cases reaching court, have been pinpointed the main reasons behind the increase in football violence, which is why the Attorney-general is currently in talks with the police to come up with new regulations for speedier trials.
Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said: “There will be absolutely no concessions on these measures”.
The handbook contains everything police need to know for high-risk games – such as those between rival Nicosia teams APOEL and Omonia, which have thousands of fans.
A committee has been appointed with representatives from the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) and the police, who will earmark this season’s high-risk games. They will then determine the maximum amount of tickets that can be sold to the game’s visiting fans.
During these games, a crisis centre will be put into operation at the home team’s district police headquarters, which will mean that the district where the game is being carried out will be responsible for any violent behaviour.
Fans under the influence of alcohol or other substances will be banned from the stadiums, while no one will be allowed entry without a ticket, which are now issued with the use of ID cards.
In the event that objects are thrown onto the pitch during a match, the policeman in charge will temporarily interrupt the game and if the incident recurs, the match will be called off altogether.
Katsounotos said the force was determined to act decisively and arrest anyone caught misbehaving.
Meanwhile, the CFA second deputy president, Andreas Santis, has expressed his concerns over organised fans being transported in large groups to other towns to attend matches.
Santis, who listed the employment of special stewards to overlook games as one of the most important measures to help deal with football violence, explained that it was difficult to regulate organised groups of fans.
“We will see how the situation develops, there are legal issues,” he said. “How can you ban someone from moving from one town to another in an organised manner? My personal view is, I have been categorically against this for years because where there are crowds there are more problems than when people go individually to the game.”
Santis added that two games at the start of this season would be played without fans, as the teams were being punished for the violence last season.
The police have announced that all football clubs will be asked to no longer transport fans on organised buses, but if this isn’t adhered to – as it isn’t law – police will carry out thorough checks on the buses and the fans before they head off, but also once they have reached their destination.
The new championship kicks off tonight with Olympiakos Nicosia against AEL Limassol at 6 pm, and APOP Kyniras via Enosis Neon Paralimniou.
Tomorrow, Larnaca team Alki will host Anorthosis Famagusta, Ethnikos Achnas take on AEP Paphos – both at 6 pm – and Apollon Limassol will host Doxa.
On Monday, APOEL Nicosia will host Limassol’s Ermis and champions Omonia will take on AEK Larnaca at 8 pm.
