Cypriot football clubs Nea Salamis and AEL Limassol file official complaints against referees

Two Cypriot football clubs, Nea Salamis and AEL Limassol, have formally complained to regulatory bodies regarding officiating in their recent matches. Nea Salamis reported referee Ioannis Piripitsis and VAR operator Menelaos Antoniou following their August 28, 2026, opening match against Olympiacos Nicosia at the GSP Stadium, expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the game.

Simultaneously, AEL Limassol has announced it will file a formal complaint against referee Konstantinos Fellas after their 2-0 victory against Anorthosis. While AEL won the match, the club is deeply concerned about serious injuries sustained by players Yannick Gomis and Hamza Catakovic. The club has requested a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (KOP) and the President of the Referees' Committee to address concerns regarding inconsistent rule enforcement and the protection of players. AEL leadership stated they intend to pursue institutional actions to ensure fair treatment and have planned to reinforce their roster following the loss of their two injured athletes.