Cyprus has long been a stumbling block between Greece and Turkey, which has a big impact on public sentiment. Cyprus fanaticism is known throughout the world primarily as a confrontation between APOEL and Omonia, which are classified as right-wing and left-wing political trends, respectively. However, there are small local collectives on the island. Nea Salamina is not very famous club, but nevertheless has a distinctive and interesting fan base.
- Tell us about the city in which you live. What football traditions exist in your area?
- At the moment we live in Larnaca temporarily until we are able to return to Famagusta. Larnaca has a fan base of most of the big teams in Cyprus. Football traditions are mainly pyro shows and gatherings before and after the games at the fan club. We all get drunk together and we go to support our team. Famagusta, our home town also known as the ghost town, is illegally occupied by the Turkish army since 1974. At the moment there are political talks regarding a solution but nothing leads anywhere which causes concern. Salamina’s official stadium is the GCE, which is located in the buffer zone. SALAMINA has always been and always will be in the front line, fighting for the rights of people to return to their homes in Famagusta and the whole of the occupied island.
- Tell about history your club. What achievements in your club?
- Achievements? It depends on what you mean by achievements. If you are referring to titles then our team has only won 1 cup 1 community shield. But that’s not why we are SALAMINA fans. We support this team because of the pride we feel. We are the first left wing team in Cyprus. Founded on the 7th of March 1948. Our ancestors where the first athletes who had the balls to stand up and fight for what they believed. Despite being threatened to be killed, they still went ahead and created the club. 70 years later SALAMINA is still going strong. Our achievement is that we own history. We revolutionised football for left wing people in our country.
- What are the political views of the fans Nea Salamina? What do you think about the conflict between Turks and Greeks in Cyprus?
- Left wing/ Antifascist. We are the working class of Famagusta. The problem has been created by British and American Imperialism. The Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots have lived in harmony for many years and they are both victims of the Turkish invasion of 1974. The problem should be solved within the framework of the UN on the basis of a bi-communal federal state.
-Tell us about the history of your fan group.
- Before our group, SALAMINA fans we organised in the Red Club. The Red Rebels were founded in 2011 and had as a purpose to support the club in a more social aspect. Due to the collapse of the Red Club, the Red Rebels are now both the social and athletic representatives for the fans. We have a fan club in Larnaca and Paralimni and we are growing in numbers year by year.
- Where do you get money for the needs the fan club? What performance are you doing? Are you engaged in selling any merchandise?
- In order to gather money for the fan activities every member pays a yearly subscription. Additionally, the group produces merchendice that is sold therefore allowing the REBELS to have a money for their needs.
- Which clubs do you have friendly or hostile relations?
- We do not have friendly relations with anyone. Our team is the only thing we care about and for 90 minutes nothing else matters. It’s just another group against us. It doesn’t matter if they wear green, blue or black. IF THEY ARE NOT ONE OF US THEY ARE AGAINST US.
- Is there Nea Salamina in other cities of Cyprus?
- Dues to the fact that NEA SALAMINA fans are refugees, they spread throw-out the whole island. Therefore we have fans in every city of Cyprus. At the moment, we have two fan clubs. One in Larnaca and one in the free part of Famagusta.
- Among your fans there are people of other nationalities?
- Of course they are. We have Syrians, Palestinians, Romanians, English, Polish, Russian and many more nationalities. We are a very open group and we accept people no matter their nationality.
- Tell us briefly about the Cyprus fan movement and what it views prevail. What do you know about the ultras from the Turkish part of Cyprus? How often do you have a fight with right-wing? How does the Cyprus ultras differ from Greek and Turkish ones?
- Most fans started to get organised in the last 20 years. Not all first division teams have ultras. To be honest we don’t hear anything about ultras from the occupied part of Cyprus. Their football is very low standard and most of the fans prefer Turkish teams rather than the ones in their area. Fights with right wing happen very rarely. In our opinion, the difference is that we in Cyprus, especially the left wing supporters, are more socially aware. We fight social injustice in the stadiums and on the streets.
- How did you react to the murder of anti-fascist PavlosFyssas?
- As a group there wasn’t a lot we could do. We had banners made which were made visible in the game as well as graffiti outside the stadium. Moreover, we had members taking place in the demonstrations that took place.
- Is your tribune open to women and young children?
We accept children over the age of 14 but we do not accept women.
- What is your relationship with the club and the players?
- We try and support the club in all of its needs. We send members of the Red Rebels as volunteers to support in any activity NEA SALAMINA has. Having said this, if we have a dispute on how the team is run the board will have to answer to us. As for the players, we expect them to respect our club and as a return we will support them through thick and thin.
- Do you have a problem with the police? In Cyprus have strict laws for the fans?
- Yes the police are prejudice and biased against left wing ultras. Last year police arrested fans only from 3 teams. SALAMINA, omonoia and ael. At the moment, the government is trying to pass law making it very hard for supporters. They call it supporter’s card. This was met by huge disapproval. All the ultras of every team protested this common enemy.
- How often do you attend away matches? At what transport you prefer to travel?
- We go to every game. Home or away. As Cyprus is a small island we are able to travel to away games every time. The way we travel is by car. We meet at the fan club and we set off together.
- Is there anything in your area any initiative against modern football? Do you support Cyprus National Team?
- Protests against the fan card took place everywhere in Cyprus. We participated in a joint demonstration that took place in Nicosia, we were part of the demonstration that took place while the national team was playing and we had our own protest in Larnaca. We left the fan club and walked in the main streets shouting chats against the fan card and stopped outside the police station where we continued with the chants. We support the national team but we do not attend the games as a fan base.
- Tell us about your stadium. How much is the ticket to the football at our stadium? Can I go free?
- The stadium was built in 1991 by volunteers and by people’s donations. The stadium is located in Larnaca. It is called AMMOXOSTOS EPISTROFI which means return to FAMAGUSTA. One of the conditions to join the Red Rebels is that you have to pay for a season ticket. It is about 150 euro or it costs 15 euro for a single ticket. The Red Rebels would not allow anyone to go for free. We do not want to cause damage to our team and the board needs as much income as possible.
- How do you feel about the use of alcohol?
- Against sober football. Anyone can interpret this how they like.
- Do you have your room? Draws you own graffiti? Do you go to other sports besides football?
- Yes. We have two fan clubs. They are full of graffiti, we make our banners there and have our own gatherings. NEA SALAMINA also has a volleyball team. As a fan base we often go to the games.
- What do you know about the fan movement in Russia? What ultras scene world do you like?
- We get to see a lot of the fan bases in Russia. We are not yet near that standard. To be honest the only ultras scene we like is our own.
- Your plans for the future.
- We want to keep growing and supporting our team through thick and thin.
- A few words in conclusion.
- “Nα ξέρεις θα γυρίσουμε πιστοί στην άνοιξή σου”. These are the lyrics of a song that is attached to every SALAMINA supporter. It is a song about Famagusta and the mean “know that we will return loyal to your spring”.
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