Apoel thrown out of Cypriot cup after violence (Update)

Apoel were on Friday thrown out of the Coca-Cola Cup by Sports Judge Aristotelis Vryonides, after their second-round game was abandoned due to fan violence.

The Nicosia-based club were drawing 0-0 away at Nea Salamina on January 16 when a firecracker launched from the away fans’ section hit Nea Salamina player Giorgos Papageorgiou.

Papageorgiou reportedly suffered damaged hearing following the incident.

Friday’s decision saw Nea Salamina awarded a 3-0 victory and a passage through to the quarter finals.

The game between Nea Salamina and Apoel was one of two Coca-Cola Cup second round ties which could not be completed due to fan violence.

The judge also imposed the following fines:

• Nea Salamina was fined €1500 after its fans carried dangerous items in the stands, including torches and firecrackers
• Nea Salamina was also fined €1500 after its fans fired dangerous items (including torches and firecrackers) delaying the beginning of the match by four minutes
• Nea Salamina was fined €2000 after fans spat on a referee and a player from the opposing team
• Apoel was fined €15,000 for the Papageorgiou incident
• Apoel was also fined €2000 for not including two football players in its 11-member team

The other, held between Limassol rivals Apollon and Ael on January 24, was abandoned before it could even start as sets of fans threw fireworks and other objects at each other and invaded the pitch.

The trial of four men arrested following those incidents is expected to begin in May.