Two arrests after violent attack at U19 game (update 2)

Two 31-year-old men were arrested on Monday in connection with Saturday’s violent attack at the U19 championship Apoel-Pafos FC match in Kouklia, in which the Paphos team’s coach suffered head injuries.

Paphos police spokesman Michalis Nicolaou told the Cyprus News Agency that the two men are among the four sought over the incident.

Paphos police told the Cyprus Mail earlier in the day that arrest warrants had been issued for the two 31-year-olds as well as another suspect aged 28 and a fourth aged 16, all Paphos residents.

General manager of Paphos FC Charis Theocharous told local media that the owners of the football club are expected in Paphos shortly and will discuss which measures may be taken.

“We will have security at the matches of the young academy players, K19, K17, K16 and so on, with the placement of security at the games borne by the association,” he said.

“Our effort is the children’s safety,” he said, adding that parent’s have entrusted them with their safety.

Theocharous said that the owners of the club are prepared to offer a reward to those who offer information which could lead to the arrest of the alleged attackers.

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.

“Violence has no place in our stadiums and especially in matches of young boys aged 17 and 18,” the Paphos academy said, adding that the attackers used bottles, crowbars, chains and other weapons.

Theocharous said that such attacks ruin the progress which has been made in tackling football hooliganism and violence at the pitch.