Minister of Justice and Public Order Loucas Louca has assured that Cyprus places the issue of safety at football matches high on the agenda and proves this in practice.

 Louca, who represented the EU Council at the annual meeting of UEFA and the European team of football experts, which took place in Vienna on September 12 and 13, said in an address that safety measures at football matches often fail due to inadequate knowledge and understanding of fan culture, as well as the underlying dynamic behind group behaviour.

 “An open dialogue with the representatives of the fans can teach us much, for example who the fans understand and conceive the effectiveness of safety measures taken by the Police and other authorities,” he said.

 The main aim of the meeting was for all involved parties to move forward, so that Champions League and Europa League matches could be held in safety and order.