Cypriot football clubs discuss refereeing reforms with the federation

On September 17, 2026, club presidents held a meeting with the president of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), Charis Loizidis, to address critical issues regarding the standard of domestic refereeing. Olympiacos president Petros Savvas described the discussion as constructive and logical, noting that various proposals were presented for long-term implementation.

A central topic of the meeting was the potential introduction of foreign referees in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room to support Cypriot officials. Savvas expressed optimism that the federation will adopt this measure, though the specific timeline for its implementation remains to be determined by the CFA. Additionally, the discussions touched upon the necessity for local referees to undergo further training and improve their professional conduct and personality.

Beyond the integration of foreign VAR officials, there is growing support among club leadership for moving toward semi-professional refereeing structures. Petros Savvas stated that Olympiacos will refrain from public criticism to avoid escalating tensions, emphasizing that the focus should remain on systemic improvements rather than reactive complaints. The federation is expected to finalize its decision on these reforms following the consultation process.