aek arena — An Israeli football fan was fined €1,200 on Friday after pleading guilty to offences arising from clashes outside the AEK Arena on Thursday evening. The 24-year-old appeared before Larnaca district court, admitted to his involvement in the melee, and paid the fine immediately.
- Incidents of violence had already been reported earlier in the day near the Larnaca port roundabout, where police had to use smoke bombs to disperse a crowd of Beitar Jerusalem supporters.
- As part of their ongoing efforts to investigate these incidents, police are examining CCTV footage and gathering witness statements to identify all individuals involved.
The disturbances erupted before kick-off as supporters from AEK Larnaca and Beitar Jerusalem clashed outside the stadium. Reports indicate that a group of Beitar Jerusalem supporters moved towards a nearby parking area, where they encountered AEK fans, leading to violent confrontations.
Police quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating. They deployed the anti-riot water cannon vehicle known as ‘Aiantas’ (Ajax) and increased police presence around the stadium. Despite the disorder, officers managed to restore calm, allowing the match to proceed as scheduled.
Incidents of violence had already been reported earlier in the day near the Larnaca port roundabout, where police had to use smoke bombs to disperse a crowd of Beitar Jerusalem supporters.
In a disturbing turn of events, bystanders were also affected by the clashes. A South Korean couple reported damage to their rental car, which they claimed had been legally parked near the stadium. They expressed their concern, stating, “It is deeply concerning that peaceful tourists can face such violence and financial loss in public space during football events.”
As part of their ongoing efforts to investigate these incidents, police are examining CCTV footage and gathering witness statements to identify all individuals involved.
Notably, Beitar Jerusalem is the only club in the Israel Premier League that has never signed an Arab player, and its ultra fanbase is notorious for its Islamophobic culture. In contrast, AEK Larnaca fans have historically aligned with the right of Cypriot politics.
The investigation remains active as authorities strive to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the disturbances and identify any additional suspects through video evidence and witness testimony.
