Referees' clubhouse in Cyprus struck by pipe bomb in pre-dawn attack, causing minor damage

NICOSIA, Cyprus – A referees' clubhouse in Cyprus was struck by a pipe bomb in a pre-dawn attack, causing minor damage.

Police said the low-yield explosive was placed at the entrance of Cyprus Referee Association's clubhouse early Monday.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter condemned the attack as "cowardly" and offered full support to the Cyprus Football Association's efforts to protect match officials.

Referee association chairman Michalis Argyrou urged police to take action to stop this "repeated pattern of behavior."

Cypriot referees are sometimes the target of abuse and intimidation. Argyrou says a firebomb was tossed at a referee's home in Limassol two weeks ago. In February, the Cypriot federation postponed all first division matches for a weekend after a bombing damaged the car of a top referee.