Football teams fined, fans banned from games after violent incidents

Cyprus football association (CFA) on Wednesday banned the football fans of AEL, Apollon, Apoel and Anorthosi from attending their next away game following recent violent incidents.

The four first division football teams were also fined.

CFA judge Aristotelis Vyronides said the decision concerning Apollon Limassol relates to a complaint against the club “for serious damage” caused by fans of the team during and at the end of the match against AEK Larnaca on November 26. It is reported that they broke seats and wrote slogans on the walls.

Apoel was given the same penalty for a complaint that fans of the team carried dangerous objects, namely torches and firecrackers inside the stadium. Apoel fans were also reported for throwing an object on the pitch during the match and for firing and throwing fireworks and firecrackers in the stands before the start and during the match against Omonia on November 27.

The decisions on AEL and Anorthosis relate to incidents caused by their fans after the end of the match between the two teams on November 27. AEL fans threw stones at the players of the opposing team during their departure from the pitch.

For the fans of Anorthosis, the decision states that the penalty is for incidents during the match and after the end of the match when fans lit fires in the stands that damaged the stadium, while they also threatened to harm people in the stands. The events “caused the immediate intervention of the fire service and the police”, CFA said. It added that fans caused “serious damage” during the end of the match.

The above actions violate the disciplinary regulations of the Cyprus football association.