The new football season is off to a better start, as after the police’s change of heart regarding the accountability of all involved parties, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) took a step back yesterday by setting a cap on the number of away fans for high-risk matches.
Following the failed attempt by the Minister of Justice to persuade the CFA to ban away fans, the police sent a letter to the association, warning that matches would not take place if safety certificates were not provided or if the requested security measures were not implemented.
The police’s warning shots seem to have hit the mark, as four days before the first whistle of the season, the CFA amended its regulations, setting the number of away fans at 800 for high-risk fixtures.
Earlier, there had been confusion over the CFA’s termination of ticket sales for Anorthosis fans, with the police later clarifying that they had no involvement. The issue of the police’s stance for the upcoming football season was discussed in a meeting at the Ministry of Justice yesterday morning, where the police’s positions were codified and confirmed as non-negotiable.
This year, following instructions from the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, the police have changed their approach. In a letter dated August 2 to the CFA, they demanded the full implementation of the law without compromise regarding both stadium licensing and security measures.
The ministry and, by extension, the government are determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s fiasco, which saw civilian injuries in the stands, hence the insistence on all parties assuming their responsibilities as outlined in the relevant legislation, with the aim of delivering a season free from violence and injuries.
In its letter to the CFA dated 2/8/2024, the police clarified that the officer in charge of each match would refuse to police it if the safety certificate for the stadium was not provided on time or if the necessary stewards were not in place, depending on the risk level of the match.
It was also emphasised that the owners/managers of the venues, together with the safety officer, should issue and hand over the said safety certificate to the Chief of Police before the match. The police noted that according to the law, a sports venue that does not hold a valid safety certificate is not permitted to host matches.
Regarding stewards, the police requested that their number should match the requirements of each match. The police stated that the necessary number of stewards is decided during a meeting three days prior to the match and that if it is determined that effective security services are not being provided, the referee, in consultation with the safety officer, may decide not to hold the match, taking into serious consideration the views of the police.
It is noted that the meeting at the Ministry of Justice was attended by the Minister of Justice, the Chief of Police, the ministry’s general director, and other officials, with the Chief of Police briefing the Minister on the practical implementation of the measures outlined in the letter sent to the CFA at the beginning of August.
The police, in a statement, “declare their readiness and expect the responsible bodies to demonstrate the necessary seriousness and assume their responsibilities so that we can finally have a safe championship.”
Later, in a clarifying statement regarding the interruption of ticket sales for Anorthosis fans for their match against Omonia Aradippou, the police said that after studying the amendment to the CFA’s regulations, which sets a cap on away fan attendance for high-risk matches, and following clarifications provided by the CFA, it was determined that the match between Omonia Aradippou and Anorthosis did not fall into this category but was subject to the agreement between the two opposing teams.
The police clarified that they had no involvement in ticket sales for any football match and affirmed their readiness to police all football matches based on the CFA’s regulations.
Which are the 10 high-risk teams?
Yesterday, the CFA amended its regulations, setting a cap of 800 away fans for the visiting team when the match involves teams included in the high-risk group.
The list of 10 high-risk teams, according to the CFA, includes: APOEL, Omonoia, AEL, Apollon, Aris, Anorthosis, AEK, Pafos FC, Omonia 29 May, and Nea Salamina.
According to the CFA, for matches between these teams, the visiting team will be allowed to bring up to 800 fans to the stadium, unless this number exceeds 10% of the stadium’s capacity, in which case the 10% rule will apply.
For all other matches, the existing regulations for the 2024-2025 First Division Championship will apply, and teams will be able to bring fans as per the regulations.
In another move to prevent incidents, the president of the CFA, Giorgos Koumas, after meetings with the first division clubs, met with the presidents of AEL and Omonia 29 May.
Additionally, Koumas informed the Minister of Justice that the CFA accepted the government’s position that if an issue arises in the broader Mediterranean region, and Cyprus is used as a host country for refugees from neighbouring countries, then the CFA will reconsider its position on away fan bans, allowing the police to deploy more personnel for the safe evacuation of citizens from dangerous areas.
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