Potential clashes between football fans were prevented on Tuesday night as the police received unconfirmed information which tipped them off.
Footage from football hooligan accounts on social media showed dozens of black-clad Cypriots walking in a block down the popular Finikoudes beachfront in Larnaca.
The group is heard chanting and soon a few sprint off ahead and through traffic, apparently towards a group of rival fans.
Police spokesman Christos Andreou explained on Wednesday that the force suspected that fans from Omonia 29M were on the lookout for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. The latter team is in Cyprus for a match against AEK on Wednesday night.
Andreou added that officers immediately responded as they sent out nine patrols with 18 officers.
The force was soon informed that the group of Cypriot fans had gathered at a location in Larnaca where the Maccabi fans were also present, leading officers to intervene immediately.
The spokesman stated that the incident in the early hours of Wednesday was swiftly addressed as the Cypriot fans fled as soon as the officers arrived.
He added that no serious incidents were reported and the police’s role was crucial in preventing any further escalation.
In the two videos posted to social media it is not immediately clear that any police were present at the scene, however.
Later on Wednesday Larnaca municipality expressed its deep dissatisfaction with the events but praised the authorities for preventing any serious incidents.
“Just hours after the tragic news of the death of a young man in the bloody scenes in New Philadelphia [in Greece], we endured another violent incident this time in our town,” it stated.
The municipality further criticised the “supposed fans” for blackening the “multicultural town that has long supported sports”.
It added that the municipality ensures that many sports and athletics programmes are supported by the municipality and it is regrettable that this ‘noble’ activity has been marred.
08.08.2023, Gate 9 (Omonia 29M??) before attack vs Maccabi?? (played against AEK Larnaca) https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ pic.twitter.com/XzJiMEes0k
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) August 9, 2023