Tensions Escalate Between Omonoia Nicosia and Omonoia 29M Over Women’s Volleyball Final

The strained relationship between Omonoia Nicosia and breakaway club Omonoia 29M took a fresh turn on Wednesday, April 16th, following controversy surrounding ticket distribution for the Women’s Volleyball Second Division Cup Final between Omonoia Nicosia and Kouris Erimis.

Omonoia Nicosia had announced that tickets would be made available exclusively to holders of its Privilege Card – a subscription-based service offering fans discounts at the club’s official store and partner outlets.

On Wednesday morning, several members of Gate 9 – the ultras group that opposed the 2018 takeover of Omonoia by Stavros Papastavrou and subsequently founded Omonoia 29M – visited Omonoia’s Green Boutique on Papanikoli Street, reportedly attempting to purchase tickets for the final.

According to multiple media reports, Gate 9 members allegedly entered the premises, took between 45 to 50 tickets from the cashier’s desk, left money, and exited. Police were called to the scene.

Gate 9 later issued a statement claiming that their members had initially been refused tickets by staff, who attempted to conceal them. The group stated that, after being denied, they took the available tickets, paid twice to the cashier, and left. The statement further criticised the club’s limited allocation of tickets to the Green Boutique and alleged that the Privilege Card policy was being used to deliberately exclude them from the final.

In response to the unfolding situation, the Cyprus Volleyball Federation released a statement confirming that the final would be held behind closed doors:

“Tonight’s OPAP ‘Andreas Stavrou’ Women’s Second Division Cup final, following consultation with the two competing clubs, Omonoia Nicosia and Kouris Erimis, will be played behind closed doors in accordance with regulations, in order to ensure the safe conduct of the match.”

Omonoia Nicosia also issued a statement citing safety concerns:

“Following an emergency meeting with Kouris Erimis and in consultation with police, it has been jointly agreed that tonight’s Cup Final will be played behind closed doors. The safety and wellbeing of athletes and supporters is a non-negotiable priority. We wish our athletes every success.”

Despite the off-field drama, Omonoia Nicosia went on to win the final in dramatic fashion, defeating the experienced Kouris Erimis 3–2.

However, the controversy did not end there.

The following morning, Omonoia released a new statement, accusing Adamos Efstathiou, Chairman of the Board of ALS Omonoia 29M, of unlawfully entering the cashier area at the Green Boutique, forcibly taking match tickets, and handing them over to Gate 9. The statement was accompanied by video footage of the incident.

“Eyewitnesses confirm that Mr. Adamos Efstathiou, accompanied by several individuals, forcefully took tickets for the Women’s Volleyball Cup Final from the hands of a club employee, subsequently handing them to Gate 9,” the club alleged. “Their presence intimidated staff members. It is unacceptable for an official from another club to enter our premises and seize tickets for a match they are not involved in.”

The statement went on to condemn the action as a breach of safety protocols and called on the authorities to take legal action.

Shortly afterwards, Efstathiou issued a public response on social media, strongly refuting the accusations. He defended his actions as an attempt to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation and revealed that he had previously held lengthy phone conversations with Omonoia’s president, Marios Argyridis, urging the club to release a small number of tickets to Gate 9 supporters in the spirit of unity and to avoid confrontation.

“I acted to prevent a larger incident. I personally went to the boutique to collect and pay for the tickets after realising the situation was escalating. I tried to resolve the matter peacefully the night before but was ignored,” Efstathiou explained in his statement. “It’s disappointing that efforts to solve the problem are now being framed as aggression.”

He also claimed the club’s video release failed to show the full context, including his earlier discussions with Omonoia officials and efforts to ensure a peaceful resolution. He argued that the Privilege Card requirement was designed to exclude a section of the club’s traditional supporter base.

The incident highlights the long-standing tension between Omonoia Nicosia and Omonoia 29M – a rift dating back to the club’s 2018 ownership change. With both sides entrenched in their positions and public disputes becoming increasingly common, reconciliation seems unlikely in the near future.