Tougher measures ahead for fan violence

By Staff Reporter

IN LIGHT of Saturday’s events, in which a football player was injured by a firecracker thrown from the stands and the title-deciding game abandoned, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) has decided to strengthen its punitive measures against football clubs for their fans’ violent behaviour.

Following an extraordinary board meeting on Tuesday, the CFA said its disciplinary regulations will be amended for the following season to include a three-strike rule against football clubs when their fans bring ‘dangerous objects’ into the stands.
“For transferring dangerous objects into stadiums, three offences will trigger the closing of part of the club’s stands at their next home game,” the statement read.
“Any additional offence will trigger a ‘closed-doors’ match at the responsible team’s next home game in which entrance will only be allowed to pensioners and children under 12, escorted by their mothers,” it added.
The CFA has also introduced more stringent rules for throwing objects onto the pitch or at the opposing team’s fans. Each of these will immediately incur a ‘closed-doors’ match at the responsible team’s next home game with the same rules as above.
“Three such instances will incur a deduction of points, with the number of points deducted increasing with each additional offence,” the CFA warned.
The statement clarified that the term ‘dangerous objects’ will be clearly defined and incorporated into the association’s disciplinary regulations.
In addition to the above measures, the CFA proposed that the government imposes a ‘fan identification’ scheme for Nicosia’s GSP stadium, Larnaca’s Antonis Papadopoulos stadium and Limassol’s Tsireion.
“These schemes operate by the use of a fan card that is different for each club,” the CFA clarified.
Football’s governing body also proposed the immediate trial of offenders arrested for football violence, and the banning of hoods and masks in the stands.

 

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