Pafos FC owners fly in after youth soccer incident

The Russian owners of Pafos Football Club were said to be on the next flight to Cyprus, following reports that hooligans from a rival team caused mayhem during a weekend youth match.

According to local media, a group of rowdy fans entered the football pitch in Kouklia on Saturday afternoon after the end of a match between Pafos and Apoel in the under 19 category. 

Some 50 individuals, believed to be fans of Nicosia club APOEL, reportedly engaged in unsportsmanlike behavior while a number of them were said to have assaulted the 37-year-old coach of the opposite team.

Police said the Pafos coach was rushed to the Emergency Room at Paphos General Hospital and was later released after being treated for injuries.

Photos of eight individuals were initially published by police in an effort to seek information about their identities, while reports later said at least three arrest warrants had been issued.

According to Kathimerini Cyprus, the owners of Pafos FC were traveling to the island following the news in order to attend a meeting on the issue where measures would also be decided.

“We intend to place security in our youth matches in the U19, U17, and U16 groups,” the club stated, adding that they felt responsible towards parents to protect their children.

It has also been reported that club owners Roman Dubov and Sergey Lomakin, who bought into Pafos in 2017, would be willing to offer a monetary reward to those who could provide information that could lead to the apprehension of the remaining suspects.