Seven arrested after APOEL victory

 

FOOTBALL fans smashed cars, attacked a rival team’s clubhouse and torched rubbish bins in Nicosia on Wednesday evening as they celebrated APOEL’s historical qualification in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Police said they arrested seven youths aged between 17 and 25 in connection to the trouble.

According to police spokesman, Michalis Katsounotos, the seven were part of some 3,000 APOEL fans that filled the capital’s streets at around 9pm, after their team’s away game against Zenit in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The final score was 0-0.

Katsounotos said that a small group of “so-called fans” were caught in possession of steel bars, wooden rods, bats and other dangerous objects.

The Fire Department was called in on 17 occasions to set out fires in rubbish bins, while hooligans also damaged two police cars and a fire engine at Makarios Avenue, near APOEL’s clubhouse.

During the celebrations, unknown individuals attacked the clubhouse of archrivals Omonia — smashing windows — and cars parked nearby.

A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were arrested outside the Omonia clubhouse and face charges of rioting, illegal possession of an assault instrument, common assault and disturbing the peace.

Katsounotos said that some of those arrested were picked up after being spotted hurling flares while driving around the city. 

Two of the car’s passengers, aged 25, admitted intentionally lighting up the flares.

Katsounotos condemned the hooligan violence in the streets, lamenting the fact that “even celebrations of a victory or a success are proven problematic.”

Those arrested were charged and released.

APOEL has not issued an official statement yet.

 

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