Around two-and-a-half weeks before the start of the new football season, concerns over policing and matchday safety are once again in focus alongside on-pitch issues.
With the championship scheduled to begin on the weekend of 29-30 August 2026, little has changed regarding the movement of away supporters and other security measures compared with last season.
The additional legislative measures currently under discussion will not be in force this year. The bill aimed at tackling violence at sports venues, which includes provisions for alcohol and drug testing outside stadiums, remains before the House Legal Affairs Committee, while a separate bill regulating supporters' associations has yet to be tabled.
As set out in the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) championship regulations, visiting teams will be allocated 10% of tickets, based on stadium capacity, unless that allocation prevents the safe segregation of supporters or the CFA board decides otherwise for a particular venue.
In such cases, the percentage may be reduced or increased to ensure the complete and safe separation of supporters from the two teams.
The CFA executive committee also retains the right to amend these arrangements for security reasons and/or force majeure.
In addition, the association's board may prohibit ticket allocations to visiting supporters where there is a history of incidents between the two clubs, either inside or outside the stadium, or where events or intelligence before a match indicate a serious risk of crowd violence.
The pending anti-violence bill includes provisions for drug and alcohol testing before supporters enter stadiums, with anyone testing positive denied entry.
It also provides for the expansion of CCTV systems, lowering the threshold for mandatory installation from venues with 2,000 seats to those with 500 seats.
Another provision would automate supporter identification through the fan card system.
The use of CCTV would be linked to fan card identification, allowing authorities to identify offenders after incidents occur.
Despite revisions to the original text, MPs expressed significant reservations during earlier discussions, particularly regarding whether some provisions can be implemented in practice.
One of the key concerns relates to CCTV installation and whether existing sports venues are suitable for the required infrastructure.
The legislation is expected to return for discussion once parliament resumes its work.
Waiting on supporters' club bill
There have been no new developments regarding separate legislation prepared by the executive branch to regulate supporters' associations.
Under the proposal, each First Division club would be required to recognise a single supporters' association, which must be registered as a formal organisation.
After registration as an association, it would also need to be registered in the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) Supporters' Associations Register.
Registration would require, among other things:
- A registration certificate.
- The association's constitution.
- Written consent from the club.
- Details of its board members.
- Information on its offices and branches.
- A membership register.
Registration with the KOA would not be permanent.
Certificates would be valid for one year, with renewal dependent on a fresh evaluation by the organisation.
The bill also sets conditions on who may become a member and requires the maintenance of membership records, increasing the ability of authorities to identify and monitor association members.
Supporters' club premises would also be subject to regulation.
They would not be allowed to operate solely on the basis of an internal decision by the association but would need to satisfy specific requirements and provide their details to the KOA, including the identity of the person responsible for operations.
Associations would be required to notify the KOA of any changes to their details and maintain compliance with registration requirements.
The proposal also establishes a procedure allowing authorities to suspend the operation of supporters' club offices or branches.
