Ael-Apollon match called off, violent clashes with police
Clashes between Ael fans and police ahead of a highly anticipated but ‘high risk’ game with Apollon prompted authorities to call off the match.
Amid furore after the decision, police chief Stelios Papatheodorou said a bag of Molotov cocktails and torches was found.
He slammed Ael fans saying “they refused any inspections and sprayed police officers.”
According to Papatheodorou, police then ordered everyone to evacuate the stadium and go through security again before entering.
This was because it is understood some fans slipped through security as police were trying to deal with the clashes.
A group of fans complied with police orders and left the stadium but not everyone did.
As such, police could not guarantee safety and called off the match.
Stakes were already high, with Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis earlier in the day calling on fans to behave and engage in sportsmanship rather than turn the stadium into a fighting ring.
He described the game as ‘high risk’.
Nonetheless, a clash began between police and Ael fans at the Alphamega stadium in Limassol before the game began.
Hundreds of police officers and riot police were deployed to the stadium, amid concerns the situation may escalate. A crisis management centre had also been setup on site.
Stadium violence has been a recurring issue authorities had to deal with. Earlier this year the Cyprus Cup football derby between Apollon and Ael set to play out at Alphamega Stadium in Limassol, was cancelled due to incidents involving both sets of fans.
Papatheodorou said he would not resign over the violence which unfolded.