Cypriot authorities implement strict safety road map for football stadiums

Following a series of meetings chaired by the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, the Cypriot government has decided to enforce a strict road map for the licensing of football stadiums. Representing the police, the Stadium Licensing Authority, the Cyprus Sports Organization (KOA), and the Cyprus Football Association (KOP), officials addressed mounting concerns regarding venue safety. A critical consequence of this decision is that the police will refuse to provide security for any match held at stadiums that fail to meet essential safety and licensing requirements.

Currently, only the AEK Arena and the Alphamega Stadium are fully licensed. Officials noted that some existing licenses expire on August 31, while others remain valid for varying durations. The Stadium Licensing Authority will lead the implementation of the new road map, which includes specific milestones for infrastructure upgrades, including delayed CCTV installations. If stadiums fail to meet these milestones, their operating licenses will be revoked. Further discussions are planned for early next week to finalize the compliance framework, amid reports that venues like the Tsirio Stadium are unlikely to secure licensing due to persistent regulatory and infrastructure deficiencies.