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{{Infobox sport supporter group
|name = Gate 9
|image = Omonia, north stand.jpg
|type = [[Ultras]]
|team = [[PAC Omonia 29M]]
[[AC Omonia]]
|location = [[Pallouriotissa]], [[Nicosia]]
|established={{Start date and age|df=yes|1992|10|25}}|club=[[AC Omonia]]}}
'''Gate 9''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: '''Θύρα 9''') is a Cypriot Ultras group that supports [[People's Athletic Club Omonia 29M|PAC Omonia 29M]] and the non-[[association football|football]] departments of [[AC Omonia]].
==History==
=== AC Omonia ===
Gate 9 was established on 25 October 1992, in Nicosia, as the Ultras group of [[AC Omonia]], one of [[Cyprus]]' most popular teams. Initially, the group was seated under the main clock of the [[Makario Stadium]], [[AC Omonia|Omonia]]'s then home ground, before moving to its North stand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/63798_THyra_9_Sto_istoriko_Vorio_petalo_tou_Makareiou |title=Θύρα 9: "Στο ιστορικό Βόρειο πέταλο του Μακαρείου" &#124; Α' Κατηγορία &#124; Κύπρος &#124; Ποδόσφαιρο &#124; BALLA |accessdate=2014-04-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415101844/http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/63798_THyra_9_Sto_istoriko_Vorio_petalo_tou_Makareiou |archivedate=2014-04-15 }}</ref> In 1999, [[AC Omonia|Omonia]] moved to the [[GSP Stadium]], and Gate 9 followed, occupying the North stand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bono |first=Gary |date=2011-10-03 |title=Omonoia: Feisty team blends sports and left politics |url=https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/omonoia-feisty-team-blends-sports-and-left-politics/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=People's World |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== PAC Omonia 29M ===
On 29 May 2018, [[AC Omonia]] held a general assembly, where 97% of the club's members voted in favor of converting its football department from fan-ownership, to a for-profit ownership under American-Cypriot businessman Stavros Papastavrou. The decision was made due to the club's several-year-long financial difficulties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-20 |title=Ομόνοια: Υπερψηφίστηκε με ποσοστό 97% η πρόταση Παπασταύρου! (pics), 24Sports & News |url=https://www.24sports.com.cy/gr/sports/podosfairo/kypros/a-katigoria/omonoia/omonoia-yperpsifistike-i-protasi-papastayroy-pics |access-date=2022-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420184130/https://www.24sports.com.cy/gr/sports/podosfairo/kypros/a-katigoria/omonoia/omonoia-yperpsifistike-i-protasi-papastayroy-pics |archive-date=2019-04-20 }}</ref> Gate 9 had previously condemned the idea, stating it would go against Omonia's principles, and believing that another solution could be found.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=OmonoiaNews |date=2018-05-14 |title=ΘΥΡΑ 9: "Δεν θα κάτσουμε να παίξουμε το παιχνίδι τους" |url=https://omonoianews.com/podosfairo/2018/05/thira-9-den-tha-katsoume-na-pexoume-to-pechnidi-tous/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Omonoianews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On the same day, Gate 9 held an assembly, where, through a voting process, they decided to stop supporting [[AC Omonia]]'s football team, and create a breakaway club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-20 |title=Ομόνοια: Η μεγάλη απόφαση της Θύρα 9..., 24Sports & News |url=http://www.24sports.com.cy/gr/sports/podosfairo/kypros/a-katigoria/omonoia/omonoia-i-megali-apofasi-tis-thyra-9 |access-date=2022-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420182335/http://www.24sports.com.cy/gr/sports/podosfairo/kypros/a-katigoria/omonoia/omonoia-i-megali-apofasi-tis-thyra-9 |archive-date=2019-04-20 }}</ref> Thus, [[People's Athletic Club Omonia 29M]] was officially founded on 23 July 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=23/7/2018 Ιδρυτική Συνέλευση ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ 1948 {{!}} ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΛΑΙΚΟ ΣΩΜΑΤΕΙΟ ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ |url=https://pacomonia.com/23-7-2018-idrytiki-syneleysi-omonoias-1948/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=pacomonia.com}}</ref> In August, the club began playing in the 5th tier of Cypriot football, and currently plays in the [[Cypriot First Division|First Division]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Ποδοσφαίρου - Επίσημη Ιστοσελίδα |url=https://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/competitions/33701655 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=www.cfa.com.cy}}</ref> Gate 9 continues to support the rest of [[AC Omonia]]'s departments.
==Popularity and ideology==
[[AC Omonia|Omonia]] supporters are traditionally left wing. A 2009 gallop poll estimated that three out of four [[AC Omonia|Omonia]] fans vote for the [[Progressive Party of Working People]], the communist party of Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kathimerini.com.cy/index.php/index.php?pageaction=kat&modid=1&artid=10294&show=Y |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2014-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525195722/http://www.kathimerini.com.cy/index.php/index.php?pageaction=kat&modid=1&artid=10294&show=Y |url-status=dead }}</ref> While Gate 9 retains its left wing beliefs, at times it has been openly critical of the party's involvement in the club's administrative decisions. The party has denied accusations that it influences club decisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reporter.com.cy/politics/article/19046/|title = Η θύρα 9 μεγάλωσε και δεν ελέγχεται}}</ref> Gate 9 members are associated with [[communist]] beliefs and have been noted for waving banners bearing [[Che Guevara]]'s portrait, and other communist symbols.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peoplesworld.org/omonoia-feisty-team-blends-sports-and-left-politics/|title = Omonoia: Feisty team blends sports and left politics|date = 3 October 2011}}</ref> They have established relations with other left-wing supporters, such as those of [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] and [[Standard Liège]]. The group is also involved in humanitarian work for refugees in Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.themasports.com/paraskinio/2015/09/10/organomenoi-omonoias-den-to-perimenan/ |title=Themasports.com &#124; Ούτε οι οργανωμένοι της Ομόνοιας δεν το περίμεναν… (Pic) |access-date=2016-05-24 |archive-date=2015-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915195446/http://www.themasports.com/paraskinio/2015/09/10/organomenoi-omonoias-den-to-perimenan |url-status=dead }}</ref> Besides [[Nicosia]], Gate 9 has fan clubs in [[Larnaka|Larnaca]], [[Limassol]], [[Paphos]], [[Athens]], [[Thessaloniki]] and [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/56690_Omonia_Se_neo_oikima_to_SyFi_Larnakas_Amohostou |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165243/http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/56690_Omonia_Se_neo_oikima_to_SyFi_Larnakas_Amohostou |archive-date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2014-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/74962_Omonia_Xamos_sto_SyFi_Lemesoy_me_Kaiafa_ke_paiktes_(pics) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230502/http://www.balla.com.cy/3/14_Protathlima_a_katigorias/74962_Omonia_Xamos_sto_SyFi_Lemesoy_me_Kaiafa_ke_paiktes_(pics) |archive-date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2014-06-30}}</ref><ref>http://sport-fm.com.cy/podosfairo/omonoia/item/1676-omonoia-«ομάδα-όλης-της-κύπρου»/1676-omonoia-«ομάδα-όλης-της-κύπρου».html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
==Violence==
[[File:Fights at Pallouriotissa.jpg|thumb|right|Gate 9 members clash with riot police]]
The group often engages in violent clashes with members of the [[Cyprus Police|police]], or supporters of other teams. In November 2009, the group was involved in clashes with fans of local rivals [[APOEL FC]] that resulted in a serious injury of an APOEL fan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/212039|title=Άγρια επεισόδια μεταξύ οπαδών Ομόνοιας - ΑΠΟΕΛ}}</ref> In January 2012, a basketball match was interrupted when the group entered the pitch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/453768|title=Τι δηλώνει γονιός από το Ευρ.Γυμνάσιο – Ο λόγος της έντασης &#124; News}}</ref> In March 2012, the group caused damage to the [[GSP Stadium]] and injured 11 policemen after a football match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/469960|title=Σοβαρά επεισόδια στο Ομόνοια-Εθνικός (βίντεο)}}</ref> In June 2013, a football match was interrupted due to clashes between the group and [[Anorthosis Famagusta]] fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/27472|title = Χειροπέδες σε 4 για τα επεισόδια στο Ομόνοια - Ανόρθωση &#124; News}}</ref> In March 2014, during a volleyball match, riots by Gate 9 led to 11 members of the group being arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livenews.com.cy/cgibin/hweb?-A=42092&-V=news|title = Omega}}</ref> On 22 July 2014, clashes occurred in [[Larnaca]], between fans of [[Jagiellonia Białystok]] and Cypriots. Jagiellonia would face Omonia the next day in [[Europa League]] qualifications. It was strongly hinted on social media by Gate 9 members that the group was involved in the clashes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onsports.gr/Podosfairo/Europa-League/item/493797-Epeisodia-opadon-stin-Kypro|title=Επεισόδια οπαδών στην Κύπρο!|date=23 July 2015}}</ref> On 18 May 2016, riots broke out outside the group's clubhouse in Nicosia between Gate 9 members and riot police. Later that day, around 20 members of the group were involved in clashes with fans of Apollon Limassol after the Cypriot Cup Final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/sobara-epeisodia-ston-teliko-kupellou-tis-kuprou-videos/3167572|title=Σοβαρά επεισόδια στον τελικό Κυπέλλου της Κύπρου! (Videos)}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://omonoianews.com Omonoia News website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100816053509/http://www.gate9.com.cy/ Gate9 Official website]
* [http://www.kifines.com Kifines Fan Page]
[[Category:AC Omonia]]
[[Category:Ultras groups]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Cyprus]]