APOEL claims emphatic victory while Apollon and Anorthosis clash over refereeing

On September 6, 2026, APOEL secured a commanding 6-0 victory against AEL at the GSP Stadium in the second round of the Cyprus League. The match featured goals from Marquinhos, Pedroso (twice), Stafylidis, Maioli, and Peres. A key turning point occurred in the second half when AEL's Cafu was sent off following a VAR review for an incident involving spitting at Limnios.

Meanwhile, a bitter public dispute has erupted between Apollon and Anorthosis regarding refereeing decisions from their match on September 5. Apollon defended the use of VAR, stating the decisions regarding penalties and disallowed goals were clear. Anorthosis countered, accusing the match officials, specifically VAR operator Dimitris Solomou and referee Marios Christoforou, of selective application of the technology. The disagreement escalated into a series of public statements, with Apollon dismissing Anorthosis’s photographic evidence as artificial intelligence-generated, while Anorthosis insisted on the authenticity of the match footage provided by broadcasters.

APOEL, now with three points, is set to face Anorthosis on September 12, while AEL will host Nea Salamina on September 11.