Football
Associated Press 6y

Fan trouble delays Apoel-AEL game for an hour in Cyprus

A Cyprus first-division match between Apoel Nicosia and AEL Limassol was interrupted for more than an hour, attracted riot police, and finished amid near-empty stands on Monday.

Referee Demetris Mashias halted play late into the first half in Limassol after a ballboy appeared to have been hurt. He was taken away by ambulance to a private clinic.

The match resumed a half hour later until Mashias again whistled a stop when fans began showering the pitch with flares.

Some opposing fans then made it to the edge of the pitch and began hurling objects at each other. Police in full riot gear moved in to keep them apart.

After fans filed out, the match resumed to a nearly vacant Tsirion Stadium and finished 0-0.

Apoel just completed their Champions League participation this season, finishing last in a group with Tottenham and Real Madrid but holding Borussia Dortmund to two draws.

AEL did not make it through the Europa League qualifying rounds this summer.

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