Police seek suspects in U19 championship match attacks

Police on Sunday said they were investigating the attacks that took place the previous day during the Apoel-Pafos FC match for the U19 championship, in Kouklia, Paphos by fans of one of the two teams.

The Paphos team’s coach, 37, was injured during the attacks and was taken to hospital with neck and head injuries. He was discharged after being treated for his wounds.

Police said that the incident occurred at around 4.20pm on Saturday when around 50 fans of one of the teams, reportedly Apoel’s, entered the football pitch and attacked the 37-year-old.

Paphos FC and its Academy condemned the incident that was caused, they said, “by cowards and brainless people, who call themselves fans and friends of football.”

“Violence has no place in our stadiums and especially in matches of young boys aged 17 and 18,” they said, adding that the attacker used bottles, crowbars, chains and other assault items.

Police released the photos of eight suspects and called on people to help locate them by calling the Paphos CID at 26-806021, or the nearest police station or the 1460 Citizen hotline.