limassol football — limassol football — A father has been remanded for three days after an incident where he allegedly caused grievous bodily harm to an Aris Limassol academy coach during an under-12 football match in Limassol.
- Initially, investigators from Limassol CID sought a five-day remand for the suspect, but this was later reduced to three days with no objection from his defence lawyer, Argentoula Ioannou.
The 41-year-old was taken into custody on Saturday afternoon, 7 February, shortly after the altercation that occurred at Kalogeropouleio stadium. Following his arrest, he appeared before Limassol District Court on Sunday morning.
Initially, investigators from Limassol CID sought a five-day remand for the suspect, but this was later reduced to three days with no objection from his defence lawyer, Argentoula Ioannou.
According to Ioannou, the father approached police intending to lodge a complaint against the coach, alleging inappropriate behaviour towards his son, including verbal abuse and aggression. Police advised him to return later that day, but instead of addressing his complaint, they arrested him.
Investigators are currently gathering statements from other parents and officials present during the match. They also plan to interview the suspect’s son, who plays for the academy, regarding his allegations of aggressive behaviour from the coach.
The incident unfolded during a grassroots match for children aged six to 12 between Aris Limassol and Apollon Limassol. Reports indicate that tensions escalated when the suspect’s son became involved in a verbal dispute with the opposing team’s coach.
The father allegedly attacked the coach, striking him with his hands and then lifting him off the ground before forcefully throwing him down. The Aris coach sustained significant injuries, requiring hospitalisation for a fractured clavicle and a shoulder blade injury.
A patrol from Limassol Police Division attended the scene shortly after the incident. The injured coach, who identified the father as his attacker, explained that the match was being played without a referee, which led to aggressive behaviour among the children. He stated that he had attempted to calm the players when the altercation began.
According to the coach’s account, when he addressed a child from Apollon Limassol for insulting him, the situation escalated. He claimed the opposing coach approached him, just as the father ran towards him and pushed him, leading to his fall and subsequent injuries.
In his defence, the father claimed that the opposing coach had acted as a referee and had been shouting at the Apollon children. He described an incident where his son received a hard challenge and appealed for a foul, only to be met with insults from the coach. The father asserted that he entered the pitch to protect his terrified child after witnessing the coach’s aggressive behaviour.
The suspect’s version of events suggests that he did not intend to injure the coach but acted in self-defence for both himself and his son during the altercation. Police have indicated that they will investigate these claims further.
