Cyprus Football Association finds procedural errors in VAR protocol during APOEL-AEL match

The Cyprus Football Association (KOP) has completed an investigation into the VAR procedures during the sixth round match between APOEL and AEL, following the controversial expulsion of the player Kafu. Led by the Arbitration Committee and its president, Antonio Damato, the investigation confirmed that while the referee’s final decision to send off the player for spitting was correct under the Laws of the Game, there were specific procedural failures regarding how the incident was brought to the attention of the VAR team and how the review process was activated.

In response to these findings, the KOP announced that it will impose sanctions where appropriate and implement corrective measures to ensure full compliance with FIFA and IFAB protocols to prevent future errors. Meanwhile, the Cyprus Referees Association has issued a formal statement expressing concern over the growing public pressure and personal attacks directed at officials by club representatives, urging stakeholders to respect the officiating process and refrain from creating a hostile environment for match officials.