Tough new measures against fan violence

Football’s governing body in Cyprus unveiled on Tuesday tougher sanctions on clubs found guilty of fan disturbance or violence for the 2024-2025 season, when supporters will again be allowed to attend away games.

The new rules come a day after the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) decided to allow away fans to attend matches next season, following a ban on fan movement enforced from late January to the end of the 2023-2024 championship.

The updated rules will apply only to first-division clubs.

Under the new system, the entry or attempted entry by fans into the football pitch before, during or after a match will be punishable with a minimum €10,000 fine, plus a one away-game ban. In case of a second violation, in addition to the fine there will be a three away-game ban. For a third violation, the fan ban will apply for the rest of the season.

Any unauthorised entry into the pitch by any person affiliated to a club will carry a penalty of an at least €2,000 fine for the club, plus the person will be barred from any stadium for the next two months.

Throwing objects onto the pitch, the stands or any other area inside the stadium, will carry a minimum €2,000 fine.

The transporting and/or holding of dangerous items will earn clubs a fine of at least €6,000. Setting off firecrackers or any other type of fireworks carries a penalty of €6,000 minimum. Where more than three such violations take place, a one away-game ban also applies.

The hurling of dangerous items onto the pitch, or at the opposing stands, carries a minimum €6,000 fine, plus at least a one away-game ban.

The display of gestures, or the use of language or items or by any other means to convey a message “unsuitable to sports events”, particularly if the message is political, aggressive, offensive or lewd, will be punishable with a €3,000 fine.

Spitting carries a minimum fine of €2,000.

The use of air horns is prohibited, and any violation carries a fine of at least €600.

Acts of violence, provoking a disturbance, or damage caused to the stadium as a result of violence or a disturbance, will be punishable with a fine of €15,000 minimum, at least one home game played without any fans, and at least two away-game bans.

Setting off Molotov cocktails or other incendiary devices, high-impact firecrackers or shooting flare guns, results in at least two home games without fans, a €10,000 fine, plus a two away-game ban.

But Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said the new rules do not go far enough.

“I see nothing about points deduction or relegation,” the minister told a TV channel.

Hartsiotis had also wanted the current ban on visiting fans to be extended into the next football season, but the CFA ruled otherwise.