Cyprus police said yesterday that their timely intervention prevented Greek Cypriot fans from harming players from a Turkish basketball team after a Eurochallenge Cup game in the capital turned ugly.

Three youths were arrested following the outbreak of hooliganism at the Eleftheria indoor stadium in Nicosia on Tuesday night.

Police needed to use tear gas to disperse a crowd after violence erupted at the end of the game between APOEL Nicosia and Pinar Karsiyaka, of Izmir.

The attack on the visiting team was described as “unprovoked” with nothing that happened during the match – “played in a sporting atmosphere” – warranting such behaviour.

Sporting contact between Turkish and Greek Cypriot teams is infrequent as Turkey has no relations with the island’s internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government, instead extending recognition to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot authorities in the north.

The Greek Cypriot club won Tuesday’s game 82-80 but failed to progress in the competition.

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