AAP Soccer

Cyprus Cup match abandoned after fans throw flares

By AAP Newswire

Jan 25, 2024

Fans throw flares — Fans threw flares on to the pitch before the Cyprus Cup match between AEL and Apollon. -AP

A Cyprus Cup game between perennial Limassol rivals Apollon and AEL was called off Â after fans ran on to the field and hurled flares at each other before kick-off.

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Stewards at Limassol's new Alpha Mega stadium struggled to corral fans ahead of the match, resulting in riot police rushing in to try to restore order.

The referee called off the match because police couldn't guarantee safety, a Cyprus Football Association statement said.

Riot police were called after fans threw flares before a Cyprus Cup match between AEL and Apollon. (AP PHOTO)

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides condemned the "unacceptable" behaviour and said "this cannot be allowed to continue".

Apollon said in a statement that the decision to abandon the match was a "political" one and that they await the reasons why it was made since it was known that the contest would be a high-risk affair.

The drama comes just days after renewed pledges by police and the Cyprus FA to take stepped-up measures to stop violence at soccer matches.

Last Friday, the Cyprus FA banned all away team fans for the rest of the season after a spike in violence at games, including an incident in which a firecracker struck a player during a cup match between league leaders APOEL Nicosia and Nea Salamina.