February 1 – The Cyprus Football Federation (CFA) participated in today’s session of the Legal Committee of the Parliament of Cyprus to discuss the proposals of the Council of Ministers for amending changes to the law on the prevention and suppression of violence in sports venues.
Last week the CFA banned all away fans from matches in the first and second tiers of Cypriot football, as well as matches in the Cyprus Cup. The decision comes after fan violence at matches had reached unacceptable levels league wide.
The Cypriot players’ union (PASP) threatened to boycott matches in the country’s elite leagues unless authorities could guarantee the safety of players during matches. Their appeal came after another incident during the game between Nea Salamina and APOEL Nicosia when a substitute player for the home side was hit by a flare.
CFA was represented at the session by the President Giorgos Koumas (pictured, right) and the General Manager Anthoulis Mylonas, while presidents and representatives of First league teams were present.
In his statement, Koumas emphasised that the Federation is not going to hide behind its self-government in terms of the measures that must be taken to combat violence, stating at the same time that “as a Federation, we have our own laws and regulations in cooperation always with FIFA and UEFA”.
With regard to the Government’s intention to take decisions on holding games behind closed doors, the president of the CFA supported the Government-Federation joint decision, but with the caveat that it didn’t affect the self-government of football.
At the same time, he referred to the excellent cooperation that exists with the police while he also emphasised that violence is not a football but a social phenomenon which is unfortunately on the rise.
In addition, he asked for government help to find a proper operating formula for the Fan Associations, saying that the CFA and the clubs cannot control them on their own.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1734963292labto1734963292ofdlr1734963292owedi1734963292sni@o1734963292fni1734963292