Cyprus to crack down on fan violence at sporting events

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Cyprus’ justice minister on Wednesday unveiled a host of measures to combat fan violence at sporting events, including pre-game drug and alcohol tests, increased body searches and tougher policing.

The measures come days after opposing fans at a basketball playoff game between rivals Anorthosis and Apollon fought inside and outside the Tassos Papadopoulos stadium in the capital Nicosia, setting fire to public transport offices outside the venue.

Justice minister Anna Koukkides-Procopiou said the government will introduce legal amendments enabling police to administer drug and alcohol tests to suspected users ahead of sporting events.

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Police will intensify searches of fans entering venues while bans for convicted offenders will be raised to a maximum of 10 years.

A dedicated riot squad will be tasked with exclusively policing sporting and other "high-risk" events, while police inspections and oversight of travelling fans will be stepped up.

Police arrested three people in connection with the violence at the basketball game that saw three Nicosia Public Transport offices opposite the stadium go up in flames after being hit by Molotov cocktails.

Police said six officers suffered minor injuries after being showered with flares, Molotov cocktails, rocks and other projectiles, while several police and private vehicles parked outside the stadium were damaged.

Cypriot officials have announced a legal crackdown on fan violence at sporting events, an epidemic that has left police injured and buildings torched in recent months. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

One officer who had accompanied