Leontios Trattos: Cypriot referee has his car set on fire as he's targeted for the second time in just over a year
Trattos is one of Cyrpus' most high-profile referees and was targeted last February when a bomb destroyed a car outside of this flat in Nicosia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A car used by Cypriot referee Leontios Trattos was set on fire early on Tuesday, police said, the second time he has been targeted in just over a year.
The incident is the latest in a string of threats and attacks against referees and their families which led to calls for the officials to boycott games.
Police said the car, which was parked in the basement of Trattos's residence at an apartment block in a suburb of the capital Nicosia, was destroyed.
Authorities suspect the vehicle, a company car belonging to Trattos's employers, was doused with inflammable fluid and set alight.
One of the Mediterranean island's most high-profile referees, Trattos was also targeted in February last year when a bomb destroyed a car parked outside his home.
That incident, among a string of attacks against referees, led to a brief suspension of fixtures on the island.
The attacks have continued, however, and in January a bomb went off outside the home of a referee's mother, and last month a car belonging to a referee's wife was damaged by a pipe bomb.
There have been no injuries reported from any of the attacks.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments