Source : Xinhua

A new strategic plan to combat football violence is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet in the near future, local press reported on Friday.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice,Andreas Tryfonides, the decision to introduce new laws to combat the escalating problem of violence at football stadiums was taken after a team of sport and government officials visited experts in the UK.

Government and sport officials met with counterparts from the British Home Office, the various associations, Scotland Yard, football clubs, stadium owners and were even given a tour of Arsenal FC's High bury stadium.

"The aim of the team that participated in the visit is now to inform the Cabinet on what we learnt during our time there, the experiences that we got from the UK," said Tryfonides.

"We will then expect to be given authorization from the government to work together and submit a strategic plan aimed at creating a way to combat the problems that surface every time we have football matches."

Speaking at a news conference in Nicosia alongside Police ChiefCharalambos Koulentis, Cyprus Sports Federation (CSF) Chairman Titos Christofides, Cyprus Football Association (CFA) General Secretary Chris Georgiades and British High Commissioner Peter Millet, Tryfonides added: "We were pleased to discover that these particular measures used in the United Kingdom had very positive results. Unfortunately, as we all know, Cyprus has a problem with football violence which ultimately insults our society, destroys the ideology of sport.

He added: "The secret that was learned from the various UK officials was that a combined effort from all different sectors is needed to beat the problem. To stamp out violence at stadiums we all need to be united and that is not the sole responsibility of the police, the CSF or the CFA.. That was how stadium violence was stamped out in the UK."

Echoing Tryfonides' comments, the Chief of Police said in the past all the blame had been put on police, whereas a joint effort was what was needed.

Football in Cyprus has for years been plagued with violence at football grounds and refereeing controversy. In recent years, the problem has escalated and football is now seeing the emergence of racist chants at some grounds.

Last Tuesday, four youths and two men appeared in court in connection with violence that followed the highly-charged derby between rivals Apollon Limassol FC and AEL Limassol FC on the weekend.

At around the same time, angry fans of Nicosia based APOEL FC fans hurled objects at opposing fans and police officers after their side drew with Anorthosis Famagusta FC at the Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in Larnaca.