Limassol arena locked down for Maccabi home games, first match Thursday
Police will run airport-style screening at the Spyros Kyprianou arena, with hundreds of officers deployed and tickets sold online only, as Maccabi Tel Aviv begins playing European home fixtures in Limassol.
Hundreds of officers will be deployed around the Spyros Kyprianou arena in Limassol for Maccabi Tel Aviv's European home fixtures, the first of which takes place on Thursday, as reported by the Cyprus Mail. Access will be controlled through metal detectors, and every person entering — supporters, delegation members, guests and club staff — will be screened.
The venue is handed over to police a day ahead of each game, swept, and then watched until the last fan and delegation has gone. Tickets exist only in digital form: Cypriot buyers must supply ID and fan-card data, while visitors from abroad register a passport or identity number. Team colours are allowed, but flags and banners are not.
Roughly 3,000 seats are expected to go to fans arriving from Israel, about 1,500 to people on the island, and visiting clubs get a small allocation of up to 140. Counter-terrorism and intelligence units are part of the planning, and each fixture is treated as a standalone operation; the biggest crowds are anticipated for Hapoel Tel Aviv on November 12 and Olympiacos on November 17.
What it means for residents
Match nights in Limassol will look different from ordinary sports evenings: heavier policing, entry queues and possible traffic restrictions near the arena. The bill is also public money for now — police put the security cost above €1 million, and the justice minister has said the club will be invoiced.
- Plan your route. If you live or work near the Spyros Kyprianou arena, allow extra time on Thursday and on the November fixture dates.
- Tickets only online. There are no paper tickets; Cypriot residents need ID and a fan card, so sort registration before matchday.
- Leave banners at home. Jerseys are permitted, flags and banners are not, and screening applies to everyone.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
