Cypriot tax authorities demand immediate debt repayment from major football clubs

Cypriot Tax Commissioner Soteris Markides has issued a final warning to four major football clubs—APOEL, Anorthosis, Apollon, and AEL—demanding the settlement of €1 million in new VAT and income tax debts by August 20, 2026. The Commissioner, who addressed representatives during a Cyprus Football Association (CFA) meeting last Monday, explicitly stated that no extensions or concessions will be granted regarding this payment deadline.

The Tax Department's move follows discovery that these clubs accumulated new tax liabilities shortly after receiving official certification in May 2026, which allowed them to meet UEFA criteria for domestic and European competitions. Commissioner Markides expressed clear frustration with this development, noting that the department will no longer tolerate such non-compliance with tax obligations.

Should the clubs fail to meet the August 20 deadline, the Tax Department intends to initiate aggressive collection measures. These actions will begin with the freezing of the clubs' bank accounts. If non-compliance persists, further enforcement actions may include placing charges, known as MEMO, against the clubs' assets and potentially sealing business premises under recently enacted tax reform powers.