Filenews 18 June 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
The uproar continues with the bill that tightens the measures to combat fan violence, introducing the drug test and the breathalyzer test before the entry of fans into the stadiums and imposes the mandatory use of closed circuit surveillance in stadiums with 500 seats or more.
Although the Ministry of Justice has incorporated the changes demanded by stakeholders, however, reservations remain as to whether the law can be implemented, while even voices that the state finally wants matches without fans, have been heard. Most reservations are expressed about the closed circuits that must be placed in stadiums with 500 spectators or more, the suitability of the stadium infrastructure and the practical application of the two tests to citizens.
In his statement, the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, was clear, stressing that "we want to ensure the greatest possible safety in the stadiums and for the matches to take place in the presence of spectators. We are proceeding in this effort with various measures." Listing the changes, he mentioned the measure for alcohol and drug testing, the final intervention of the state in exceptional cases and where it is judged that it can intervene for the cancellation of matches, the identification of wrongful fans inside the stadiums with closed circuits, something that is linked to identification through the fan card. "We believe that the measures will give the keys to the state and the state to have safe stadiums," he stressed.
It is noted that after the objections of those involved and MPs, the ministry yesterday submitted a new revised text of a bill that clarifies that people who are adjacent to sports venues up to 500 meters away or with the intention of going to a stadium (fan buses) will be subjected to a drug test or breathalyzer test. Regarding the requirement for the installation of closed monitoring systems for stadiums with a capacity of up to 500 seats, Mr. Hartsiotis was positive about the transitional validity of the provision for one year.
The representative of the Stadium Licensing Authority, Yiannos Poumbouris, expressed concern about the application of CCTV in closed stadiums of 500 people or more. "We are talking about small groups and our suggestion is not to implement this regulation due to cost. In previous years, 25 halls were licensed, only four had a capacity of more than 2,000. Too many classrooms used for sports are by students," he said.
The director of GSP, Phivos Konstantinidis, said that the infrastructure of the stadiums is currently lagging behind. He added that in the past there was a discussion of all issues in order for the state to come and help so that our stadiums become modern. According to Mr. Konstantinidis, the stadiums alone cannot assume the cost of the upgrade and added that today the stadiums cannot respond to the changes and the law will not be able to be implemented.
The director of the GSP added that operationally, in order for the digital fan card to work, infrastructure is needed. 14-year-olds and under do not need a card, so if an adult takes out a children's ticket and goes to the stadium, if they check him, they will find him, otherwise he will pass. 200 people come with children's tickets and are pushing to enter the stadium, he said.
The representative of the CMO said that on the issue of the fan card, its digitization has already begun. The problems concern people from 14-18 years old who must have a fan card. Now the card will be scanned before anyone enters the stadium. The president of the PASP, Spyros Neophytidis, spoke of vague conditions for the system of clarity in stadiums.
There were many questions about how the breathalyzer test and the drug test were implemented, with the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Nikos Chrysostomou, replying that the Police have the equipment and experience to carry out the checks through mobile units.
The president of the Cyprus Police Association, Lefteris Kyriakou, said that we support the changes since violence has been transferred to other fields and sports such as handball and basketball and stated readiness for police officers to implement the legislation.
Nikos Loizidis of the Equality Guild suggested that the bill on SYFI be voted at the same time. "The unions came here to tell us that the police will not be able to implement the legislation. What have they done for so many years? Who is committing the incidents, for so many years, what did you do with your fans? If the two laws are not passed, the championship will not start. The SYFI should be legal and violence in our stadiums concerns everyone," he added.
The football clubs, through their representatives, have submitted their reservations as to whether the law can be applied. The intention of the Parliament is to convene another session in the presence of the Minister of Justice in order to answer some political questions.
