Pafos FC, a prominent football club from Cyprus, has drawn significant attention by enabling fans to overnight on the football pitch before their first-ever National Cup final appearance.
The enthusiasm surrounding Pafos FC’s unprecedented journey to the National Cup final, an important chapter in the club’s history, soared to new levels. With the club yet to secure a trophy, fans eagerly gathered outside the stadium prior to the commencement of ticket sales, anxious to experience this historic event firsthand.
Breaking with convention, the club allowed its supporters to camp out on the pitch overnight, providing a unique experience for the loyal fans. Several fans brought cushions and blankets, choosing to sleep right on the pitch, a rarity in professional football.
Football clubs typically prevent fans from entering the pitch to protect the grass from damage. However, Pafos FC’s CEO, Charis Theocharous, endorsed the initiative, calling it a “good idea” and reassuring that the pitch would suffer no damage.
“Our city has never experienced anything like this. We have a small city that is going crazy right now because of the final. Of course we let the fans in, we are all one family. I’m not worried about the lawn, there was no harm done to it.”
Founded in 2014 by merging AEP Paphos and AEK Kouklia, Pafos FC is a first division club based in Cyprus. The team achieved fourth place in the Cypriot Cup in 2023.
The National Cup final, scheduled for May 18th, features Pafos FC taking on Omonia.
