The highly anticipated Cup derby between Apollonas and AEL never got underway.
Hooligans invaded the pitch before the match, resulting in the police being unable to guarantee the safety of players and fans.
Consequently, the referee decided to postpone the match before it even started.
The situation hinted at trouble an hour before the scheduled kick-off.
The surroundings of the Alphamega stadium turned into a battleground with the exchange of firecrackers, flares, and stone-throwing.
The police used force, including the deployment of the Aiantas water cannon, to restore order. However, the tension spilled onto the pitch.
AEL and Apollonas fans stormed the Alphamega Stadium pitch. The result was the announcement of the match’s postponement after approximately 40 minutes.
This unfolded even after order had been restored, and about 25 minutes after the fans’ entry, everything was set for the match to begin.
However, the referee’s team was instructed to return to the locker rooms.
Subsequently, the presidents of the two clubs, Nikos Kirzis and Nikos Christodoulides were called to the locker rooms. A little later, it was announced that the match couldn’t start because the police couldn’t guarantee its safe conduct.
Notably, a child was affected by a nearby firecracker, resulting in hearing impairment. The distressing incident was brought to public attention through a Facebook post by Dr. Kroisos Panagis.
According to Dr. Panagis’ post, an irresponsible individual threw a firecracker near the child, causing him to lose his hearing.
The child’s father requested an examination, and the doctor advised him to take the child to First Aid immediately for prompt intravenous cortisone administration.
