Cyprus-Forum.com

[Patto]

Just wondering if anyone could explain to me the kinds of links that Cypriot football teams have to certain parties and political beliefs?

I remember reading somewhere that certain teams policies support a pro-greek stance etc etc.

I don't want a massive political debate to spring from this I am merely curious as to what certain supporters might believe purely because of their footballing preference!

[miltiades]

Cypriot Football supporters are unique the world over in that a team is supported not necessarily by football fans but by political affiliations. therefore Apollo is ...RIGHT and AEL is LEFT ... A bit like most coffee shops in mostly villages where you have a LEFT coffee shop and a RIGHT coffee shop !!!
Medieval tribalism I would say !!

[Patto]

Yeh like I say I read a report that said that alot of the supporters choices were more political than football based.

Can anyone give me some more insight into this?

Like maybe state which teams follow certain parties or beliefs etc

[MoonageDaydream]

I'd be interested in the answer to Patto's question as well. Some of them are obvious like Omoneia & Apoel in Nicosia and AEL & Appollon as mentioned above, but does this divide run through all the division or just the top league?

I'm not sure that Cyprus is unique in having football teams driven by tribal politics of their supporters. Scotland has Celtic & Rangers in Glasgow and Hibs and Hearts in Edinburgh, based on a Catholic or Protestant fan fan base. Barcelona FC has always been Catalan nationalist in oreientation where Espanyol was the Spanish team.
I believe traditionally Real Madrid was the 'right' team and Atletico Madrid the 'left' team, but I'm not sure that is still the case. Similarly in Italy , AS Roma and Internazioale Milan were traditionally 'left' as agains 'Juventus and Lazio which were 'right.'

[DT.]

From first division clubs

Alki- Left
AEk- Centre right
Anorthosis- Right
Salamina- Left
Ermis- (was left now that Fanieros took over they are whatever the hell they like)
APOEL- Right
omonoia- Left
Olympiakos- Right
Paphos- Centre-right
Doxa- Right
AEL- Centre Left
APOP Peyias...(not sure must be right)
Aris- Centre- Right
Ethnikos- Right
Paralimni- Right

The 2 Poles are basically Omonoia and APOEL. SO that you understand what goes on, AEL in Limassol as the only large left team has been trying to shake this off for a while. Most Limassol leftists will actually support Omonoia Nicosia rather than AEL. In fact its so much that Omonoia is equally supported in Limassol along with Apollon and AEL.

[Bananiot]

What do you mean centre right. There is no such thing. When you say "left" do you mean communist? I think it is more appropriate to divide them according to party affiliation, ie.

OMONOIA
ALKI
NEA SALAMINA

Controlled by AKEL.

And yes, this division runs right trhough all footbal divisions right to the village teams. As Miltiades said, another example of a backward society.

[MoonageDaydream]

I think we know what 'right', 'centre-right', etc mean in broad terms.
Are you saying it is more defined by party than political tendency?
So for instance in Lefkosia both Apoel and Olympiakos are described as 'right', so how does that work? Is one DIKO and the other DISY?

Describing this as a sign of a backward society is a bit harsh, as similar divisions exist in places like Spain and Italy too. Does the same apply in Greece and Turkey, I wonder?

As a football fan, I'm just interested in how the present clubs developed.

Were the two teams that merged to form AEK Larnaca both from the right of the political spectrum?

[DT.]

What do you mean centre right. There is no such thing. When you say "left" do you mean communist? I think it is more appropriate to divide them according to party affiliation, ie.

OMONOIA
ALKI
NEA SALAMINA

Controlled by AKEL.

And yes, this division runs right trhough all footbal divisions right to the village teams. As Miltiades said, another example of a backward society.

Just like the backward society of the worlds only superpower, where even the news channels are politically affiliated.

Fox News and Bill O Reilly for the gun toting, jesus lovin, GOP voting, arab killin, good ole' fashioned patriots
and CNBC for the discerning cosmopolitan NY'er democrats that have been to France and still call them french fries and not liberty fries.

[Bananiot]

Both APOEL and Olympiakos are DISY controlled. When we have Presidential elections, for example, they always come out with statements supporting the DISY candidate. And, DT, we are talking about football clubs for Christ sake.

[DT.]

Both APOEL and Olympiakos are DISY controlled. When we have Presidential elections, for example, they always come out with statements supporting the DISY candidate. And, DT, we are talking about football clubs for Christ sake.

Of course Bananiot we will define the parameters that will somehow ecplain what the hell it is you're tryin to say.

APOEL is controlled by DISY. The last time someone tried that was Kassoulides when he took a walk in front of the stands of APOEL and then swiftly ran after he got pelted by nearly every APOELISTAS up there with anything they could find.

Or do you really expect those fascists to vote for a party that voted yes in the Annan Plan?

which is it Bananiot? Are they fascists or are they controlled by DISY and support the surrender document of Annan?