Can the New Football Violence Act Provide the Means for Efficient Safety Management in Football Grounds in Cyprus

Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Sport - Sport Economics, Sport Management, grade: 72, University of Wolverhampton, course: MA Management, language: English, abstract: It recently became apparent that it was imperative to amend the "On the Prevention and Suppression of Violence at Sports Grounds Act 2008", as football violence incidents were increasing dramatically. The new Act was voted by the House of Representatives in August 2014 containing in total 77 articles which clearly define and segregate the duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in a sporting event. Learning from past football disasters and tragedies, safety management has become today one of the main concerns for the organisers. It is imperative to learn from those incidents and use their findings as a guide to avoid similar tragedies today. The research is aiming to specify and report the duties and responsibilities resulting from the new football violence Act and identify whether it can provide the means for efficient safety management in football grounds in Cyprus.
The large amount of violence incidents between rival spectators inside and outside the venues is currently the main problem of football in Cyprus. For decades, the authorities have been trying different ways to combat violence at sports venues, a phenomenon which through the years, mainly due to impunity, has spread immensely. Hooligans felt unbeatable and the authorities seemed unable to suppress the violence in sports venues. Various committees were appointed mainly after serious incidents during football games or after a political decision by the government, but it was never a result of an in-depth research and study. Over the years it became apparent that it was imperative to improve the Act and define through a new one the duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in sporting events. The enactment of the amended Act in 2014 by the House of Representatives was the beginning of a tough and uneven under the circumstances battle against violence in football. The main element of the Act is to provide the means for an efficient safety management in football grounds in Cyprus.

George Yiapanas is the Finance Manager of GSP Stadium in Nicosia, CY, with more than 20 years of progressive experience in the sports industry. He holds an MA degree in Management from the University of Wolverhampton, UK, a degree in Accounting from the BPP University, UK, a Certificate in Football Management and a Diploma in Security Management. Currently he is a PhD student in Sports Management at the University of Nicosia, CY.
He is a board member of Cyprus Association for Sports Management (CyASM), a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT) and a student member of the EuroMed Research Business Institute (SMEMAB/EMRBI). He has served as Chairman of Cyprus Squash Association (CSA) for 5 years. He is an UEFA Certified Safety Officer and a qualified stewarding trainer.
He is appointed by the University of Roehampton, UK, to teach Business and Management and by Global College in Nicosia, CY, to teach Management and Sports Grounds Safety Management, where he also serves as the Head of the BA programs in Security Management.
His primary research interests are in the areas of sports strategic management, Sports governance, sports consumer behaviour, marketing and sponsorship and sports safety management. He authored a book on Sports Grounds Safety Management and attended numerous local and international conferences, where he had the chance to present papers on sports management and sports grounds safety management. His professional activities and expertise in the field allow him to take part in various projects and discussion panels that pertain to football safety. Currently he is part of a national task, on behalf of the Cyprus Stewarding Commission, for delivering a trained workforce of stewards governed by the new regulations created under the Cyprus law.