A serious disagreement between Cyprus football leaders and the police has become worse. This happened after violent fights between rival fans in the city of Limassol. The problem is happening just days before an important first-division football match.
The Cyprus Football Association said that changes made by the police to the security plan were part of the reason for the trouble on Thursday. Both the football association and the police say they want to keep people safe.
Before the match between rivals AEL and Apollon, the football association and the police had long discussions. They agreed on a security plan that everyone was happy with. However, the football association says the police suddenly changed the plan right before the game. The new police suggestions were to either allow far fewer fans or to close the stadium to the public completely.
The football association held an emergency meeting. They said that violence has no place in football. They also announced new rules for the next match on Sunday. There will be restricted ticket sales, and no tickets will be sold at the stadium on the day to stop fans from arriving without a plan.
The police have not yet responded to these specific claims. They have said in the past that their main goal is to take precautions and reduce tension between rival teams.
To try and calm the situation, the football authority has called the presidents of both clubs to meet with the police. They hope this will create better communication. They are also asking all fans to be calm. The association says it will keep talking with everyone involved to protect the game.