Nicosia, Cyprus. Five police vehicles were damaged and officers came under sustained attack during clashes with fans outside the GSP Stadium on Sunday night after Apoel’s 2–1 defeat to Aek Larnaca.
Clashes after final whistle
Police said the incidents began after the final whistle when around 150 individuals moved towards the west stand, where club administration offices are located.
Officers attempted to repel the crowd using chemical agents, while groups of fans responded by throwing stones at police.
The confrontation resulted in extensive damage to five police vehicles.
Police association statement
The Cyprus Police Association (SAK) expressed “dismay and strong indignation” over what it described as unprecedented events.
“Yesterday’s events exceeded all limits of fan violence and turned into purely criminal acts,” the association said.
It said the violence went beyond clashes with officers, adding that “the fury of the rioters was not limited to attacks against our members, but expanded to an unprecedented destruction of state property, with the complete destruction of patrol cars constituting a direct attack on the state and the taxpayer.”
The association also warned that the theft of equipment from official vehicles was “an extremely dangerous act”, saying that “the possession and use of police equipment by citizens constitutes a very serious felony”.
It said officers could not be left exposed to organised violence.
What measures do you think should be taken to prevent similar clashes after football matches?
