APOEL FC

On 30 September 2009, Greek Cypriot side APOEL FC played English team Chelsea FC in a UEFA Champions League match at their South Nicosia stadium. The game was televised live worldwide, enabling thousands of Turkish Cypriots and millions of others to see four foot high "Cyprus is Greek" banners, written in multiple languages, hung the entire length of the pitch.

In addition to these huge xenophobic messages, APOEL's official supporters' club produced and distributed a leaflet in which they blamed "Turks" entirely for the Cyprus conflict and described the Turkish intervention as "barbaric", with no mention of the suffering of Turkish Cypriots. A Chelsea fan that had attended the game sent this crude leaflet to Embargoed! and said a copy had been left on every seat reserved for Chelsea fans. On the same night, a UEFA official was racially abused by APOEL supporters.

Embargoed!, along with many others including FARE (Football Against Racism Europe), complained to UEFA about APOEL's offensive actions, arguing the extent of the activities within the grounds meant the club's officials must have helped co-ordinate these actions. It resulted in the club being charged for racially insulting behaviour and on 02 December 2009, UEFA announced APOEL FC had been found guilty of racism and fined €40,000. It has also been warned about its future conduct.

APOEL FC supporters are renowned for their extreme Greek nationalism. The Greek Cypriot club has also been found guilty of racism before. Last year, APOEL FC was fined €30,000 by UEFA after their supporters shouted racist chants against Red Star Belgrade.