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Quite what the government hopes to achieve by writing to the UN and the EU “to put things into perspective and to give the whole story” with regard to this week’s basketball hooliganism (racism?) is not clear.

Yet again, after some condemnatory platitudes from all the political parties and the government, what we are seeing is a failure to acknowledge that hooliganism - indeed racism – is something that no-one in authority in Cyprus is willing to tackle seriously.

This is something that has been “discussed” for years now, yet no action is taken.

I appreciate a good debate, but how long should the debate continue? Back in November 2009, a propos of football hooliganism, I wrote:

“So the House Legal Affairs Committee this week "held a long discussion on ways of containing hooliganism". Apparently they discussed measures including 'numbered seats, stewards and CCTV surveillance'.

These are the very measures that were recommended by experts from the UK who visited Cyprus at least two years ago. They were discussed back then, and we were told they would be implemented .... and we are STILL discussing them?

Now we are told they will be implemented by the start of the 2011 season - I won't hold my breath! But if they are, I sincerely hope the projected 9 million euro cost is not going to be borne by the taxpayer.

It's high time that football clubs were made to take responsibility for their affairs. That means running their clubs like a business; unceremoniously expelling members and fans who don't abide by a strict code of behaviour - and ensuring that their games are properly controlled. If that means employing stewards and installing CCTV, they should bear the cost.

The total lack of leadership from club boards and the authorities governing the sport in Cyprus is to blame for the parlous state of affairs that has arisen. Instead of unreservedly condemning acts of hooliganism, they always try to pass the blame on to others.

Well, it's time they were made to carry the can: we need new legislation making clubs responsible in law for their fans' behaviour - then perhaps the men at the top, faced with a possible stint in jail, would get off their butts and DO something”.

Over a year later, nothing has changed. We’ve heard the same lame excuses time after time.

One also can’t help wondering how the police this week came to arrest only 3 under age demonstrators, who – at worst - will appear before a juvenile court. Reports spoke of 500 people involved: what happened to the remaining 497? Could the police not apprehend them? If not, why not?

Are they connected to political parties? Why have they not been arrested? There are reliable reports of MPs present at the game who, while I’m sure they were not actively involved in the fracas, have refrained from commenting on it - shame on them .. I’m sure they don’t condone such behaviour, but by remaining silent they certainly give the impression that they do.

We will never solve the hooliganism problem until the WHOLE political and sports establishment unites to condemn (and punish) such behaviour. And it should make no difference who the target is. We may have our differences with Turkey, but if we agree to play them in international sporting events, then we should behave appropriately – and ensure that our fans do - or withdraw from the competition.

The idiots at Apoel have this week put us all to shame – and I await the proper condemnation from ALL interested parties: let’s start with the club management, who are notoriously silent in these cases. Their first act should be to withdraw club membership from anyone found guilty of these activities – I’m holding my breath …

And let’s see leadership from the top on down: this is more than a nut – and we need a very big sledgehammer. We can spin what we like about Turkey’s reaction – but the fact of the matter is that they wouldn’t have anything to complain about if we had behaved correctly in the first place.

I wonder what my blog on the subject in 12 months will be … plus ca change …