Simon Ainejian: no Armenian flags in view at Pinar Karsiyaka vs. Apoel football game in Cyprus

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fans of Apoel Greek Cypriot team attacked players of Pinar Karsiyaka Turkish basketball team that was in Greek Cyprus for a FIBA Eurochallenge game.

Apoel fans threw stones and gas bombs right after the referee blew the last whistle on the court. The rampage continued in the corridors and locker rooms as fans carrying sticks attacked Pinar Karsiyaka players.

The Turkish team was trapped in the building for a while. Authorities cleared the way and the team left for their hotel, also in the Greek Cypriot part of Nicosia, which is the divided island’s capital.

Turkish team alerted the Turkish Foreign Ministry about the incident. The team left Nicosia for Athens on the morning of December 22 and was to arrive in Izmir during the day.

In the meanwhile, according to Turkish media reports, Cypriot team fans were waving Armenian flags during the game.

“Turkish media is, as always, distorting the information. No Armenian flags were in view during or after the game,” Gibrahayer magazine editor-in-chief Simon Ainejian told PanARMENIAN.Net