Cyprus Cup match called off after fans storm field and throw flares

Fans throw flares in the pitch before the Cyprus' cup... — Fans throw flares in the pitch before the Cyprus' cup soccer match between AEL and Apollon at Alpha Mega stadium in Kolossi near Limassol, Cyprus, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. A key Cyprus Cup battle between perennial Limassol rivals Apollon and AEL has been called off after a number of fans invaded the pitch and hurled flares at each other prior to the start of the match. Credit: AP

By The Associated PressUpdated January 24, 2024

NICOSIA, Cyprus — A Cyprus Cup game between perennial Limassol rivals Apollon and AEL was called off Wednesday after some fans ran onto the field and hurled flares at each other before kickoff.

Stewards at Limassol’s brand-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.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides condemned the “unacceptable” behavior 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 it awaits 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 following a spike in violence at games, including an incident in which a firecracker struck a player during a cup match between league leader APOEL Nicosia and Nea Salamina.