Apollon denounce CFA’s decision to reject appeal

Apollon on Thursday slammed the decision of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) to reject the appeal filed by the club over the decision to hold the derby against Ael behind closed doors following the incidents provoked by fans that forced the referee to call off the match.

In a statement, the club called the ruling wrong because it circumvents every concept of law, as well as the principle of fair adjudication of an appeal.

“We reserve the right to respond to the ruling when we will receive the reasoning behind it,” Apollon said.

The club also pointed the finger at rivals Ael for blaming Apollon fans over the CFA decision to play the postponed match behind closed doors.

Apollon on Tuesday said Ael fans had thrown Molotov cocktails towards their players who were warming up “which fortunately did not explode”, while they also broke up pieces from the cement bleachers and threw them.

“The decision to reject our appeal damages both clubs equally and misleads the public. It is also not Ael’s place to provide an opinion on the legal validity of our claim,” Apollon’s statement continued.

“Incendiary and misleading statements, as well as biased approaches to justice are causing the escalation of violence, instead of its suppression.”

The club finally called on its fans to remain calm in order to protect the club from further “unfounded accusations.”

The incidents at Tsirio stadium on December 4 led to the injury of an officer, while fans also destroyed plastic seats and damaged the concrete bleachers.

Police said that troubles began before the match was expected to start at 7pm. During checks at the entrance, they arrested a 20-year-old who was caught with three torches in his possession.

Then, shortly after 6pm, fans threw firecrackers on the pitch damaging stands and seats, while during the departure of the Apollon players after their warm-up, they threw pieces of concrete from the damaged stand.