Three charged after football violence

Three individuals have been charged for offences related to violent incidents that took place on Monday September 11 near Aek’s arena stadium in Larnaca following a match with Nea Salamina.

The suspects photographs were published on Wednesday.

Subsequently, two men aged 20 and 31 presented themselves at Larnaca CID, the first on Wednesday and the second on Friday.

“[The two men] were questioned and after being charged for the offence of public disturbance, were released to be summoned before a court for trial at a later stage,” police said.

“The 20-year-old appeared on the morning of Friday September 16 before Larnaca district court where police filed a case of public disturbance against him. The court set November 3 as the hearing date, while at the same time issued a decree temporarily banning the 20-year-old defendant from sporting arenas,” it added.

A third suspect, aged 33, was found by police on Friday night and was arrested based on information received after publication of the photographs.

The 33-year-old was questioned and charged with public disturbance and was released to be summoned before the court at a later stage.

During the clashes, a member of the public and a police officer were injured. A 51-year-old was also arrested for insulting behaviour. The injured member of the public was taken to Larnaca hospital’s A&E but left before being examined.

“After the end of the match as fans were exiting the stadium, some of them threw stones at police officers. With anti-riot squad intervening order was restored, while police arrested a 51-year-old man for insulting behaviour, and after charging him, he was released to be summoned before the court later,” police said.

“A police officer was injured in the face from a bottle thrown at him. He was taken to Larnaca general hospital where he was kept for treatment. It was found that he had suffered a fractured cheekbone, nasal bone, and right sinus as well as an open laceration on the upper lip,” they added.

Larnaca police are currently continuing their investigation to identify individuals involved in the incidents while photographs of several persons have been re-released to help identify them.