AEL FC player Cafu suspended following VAR controversy

AEL Limassol midfielder Carlos Miguel Ribeiro Dias, known as Cafu, has received an eight-match suspension following his dismissal during a match against APOEL on September 6, 2026. The Judicial Committee of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) imposed the additional six-match ban on top of the automatic two-match penalty, citing evidence that the player spat at an opponent. AEL has formally contested the decision, filing an official complaint on September 14, 2026, regarding the integrity of the VAR review process and potential external interference.

Management at AEL has publicly criticized the CFA and its president, Haris Loizides, claiming that the club is being treated unfairly compared to others. They allege inconsistencies in disciplinary regulations, referencing previous incidents from the Cyprus Cup final that they believe were handled with undue leniency. In response to the suspension, AEL fans staged protests outside a hotel in Limassol where CFA officials were meeting with club presidents.

Cafu has publicly denied the allegations, maintaining that he accidentally spat out a piece of chewing gum, not an opponent. While AEL officials have indicated that they are considering an appeal, the club continues to demand a full investigation into the VAR operations to ensure transparency, claiming that the current championship is already compromised by biased officiating.