September 16 – Three police officers were seriously injured after riots ahead of the Limassol derby between Apollon and AEL in the third round of the Cypriot championship.
As tension increased before the match, the law enforcement authorities decided to cancel the game, fearing that they were unable to ensure the safety of the fans.
The hostile at,osphere at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol began long before kick-off. Some of the visiting fans from AEL managed to enter the stadium without tickets. This prompted police to order AEL fans to leave the stadium and go through mandatory re-entrance checks.
Some of them obeyed the order, while others remained in the stadium, refusing to leave the stands.
In the end, police were forced to cancel the match due to security concerns.
Following the decision to cancel the game tensions escalated further and AEL fans attacked the police around the stadium.
As a result of the thrown Molotov cocktails, stones, and various other objects, three police officers, including a woman, were seriously injured and transported to the nearest hospital in Limassol for emergency medical treatment.
For their part, the police were forced to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse rioting AEL Limassol fans.
It is not yet clear whether the match between Apollon and AEL will be played on a different date or whether the hosts will be awarded a home win.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1726702100labto1726702100ofdlr1726702100owedi1726702100sni@o1726702100fni1726702100