Police Raise Security Concerns Ahead of Omonoia vs. Pafos European Clash

Serious concerns have emerged regarding the upcoming Conference League playoff match between Omonia and Pafos FC, scheduled for Thursday (13/2) at GSP Stadium. According to a report by REPORTER, the Cyprus Police have stated that they cannot guarantee the safe conduct of the match due to unresolved issues with the stadium’s security system.

Security System Failures Raise Alarms

Tensions surrounding football security in Cyprus continue to escalate. Following Saturday’s incidents—where the Police cited security concerns over camera malfunctions and past incidents involving clubs—the same uncertainty now clouds Thursday’s European fixture.

The Police have officially informed GSP Stadium officials that they do not recognize the validity of the venue’s security certificate. Their objections stem from critical malfunctions in the stadium’s surveillance system:

• 30 security cameras are non-operational
• A key system server is out of service
• The remaining cameras provide blurry, low-quality footage
• The image management system is completely non-functional

As a result, the authorities deem the security certificate non-compliant with legal requirements, making the stadium unsuitable for hosting the match.

Police Refuse to Provide Security

In a significant development, the Police have indicated that they will not provide security for the game, which has already sold over 12,000 tickets—double the attendance of last Saturday’s domestic matches. While the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) took responsibility for ensuring the completion of those games, such an approach is not viable for Thursday’s UEFA-sanctioned event.

UEFA to Decide the Fate of the Match

With the Police standing firm, attention now turns to UEFA, which will be officially notified of the situation. The governing body must decide whether the match will proceed as planned or face potential postponement or relocation.

Controversy Over Police Actions

The dispute over stadium security has sparked controversy. The Police had previously issued a two-week deadline for fixing the surveillance system, yet the issues remain unresolved. However, GSP officials argue that the system has been in the same state since last summer without any previous objections from authorities. The stadium’s General Manager even stated that, in a recent meeting, the Police deemed the system satisfactory.

Adding to the tensions, several football clubs have released statements questioning the motives behind the Police’s actions. Some suggest this could be retaliation after the CFA refused to ban fan travel for recent APOEL-Apollon and AEL-Anorthosis matches, as tickets had already been sold.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on UEFA’s decision, which will determine the fate of the highly anticipated European clash.