Man remanded over widely condemned football fans’ hooliganism

A 22-year-old man, who was arrested in relation to the violent clashes among football fans in Limassol earlier this week, has been remanded for three days, police said on Sunday.

The incidents that occurred late on Wednesday led to the injury of a 21-year-old man and property damages.

Meanwhile, three more people remain wanted for the same case.

The suspect was arrested at the Larnaca airport on Saturday night, where he went to board a flight to another country, despite the pending arrest warrant against him. He is facing charges related to hooliganism and conspiracy.

According to the police, the incidents, which have been likened to ‘civil war’, happened shortly before 11pm on Wednesday. They involved groups of hooligans bearing bats, stones, and other objects, who gathered outside the Omonia football club.

Officers who rushed to the scene following public complaints, said they encountered two groups, around 40 from Omonia and 80 from Apollonas, attacking each other with rocks, firecrackers, teargas, and Molotov cocktails.

As a result of the violence a car caught fire, shop windows were smashed, and a 21-year-old man was injured in the elbow. Upon arriving at the hospital, he was found to have suffered a fracture.

The perpetrators dispersed into the neighborhoods when the authorities arrived but police had arrested one person found in possession of three Molotov cocktails at the scene.

The violent incidents led the Cyprus police association to reiterate their opposition against the operation of certain football fan clubs.

Police had been strongly opposed to the re-opening of a particular clubhouse in Limassol, which had been temporarily banned from operating. However, the Limassol municipality overrode police caution and gave permits for two clubhouses to operate as of May 18.

Proposed anti-riot measures aiming to criminalise the wearing of face coverings in demonstrations have yet to be implemented.