Police and APOEL fans clashed prior to Saturday’s crucial league football match between APOEL and AEK Larnaca prompting kickoff time to be delayed five minutes.
The home supporters battled with police just outside the GSP Stadium and a nearby field caught fire as flares were set off. In response, police fired back tear-gas prompting winds to carry the smoke onto the pitch. Substitutes from both teams retreated back to the changing rooms in a bid to escape the tear gas while fans also struggled to breathe.
The referee delayed kickoff time by five minutes. Crowd trouble in the south stand continued into the first half while play was at one point stopped to allow fans onto the pitch to escape more tear gas.
Tensions spilled onto the pitch as players on the bench from both sides clashed while AEK coach Ran Ben Shimon was sent to the stands by referee Yiannis Anastasiou.
The game ended in a surprise 1-0 victory to AEK after a late goal from Alex da Silva. The final whistle was met with jeers from the home supporters.

Cyprus Weekly