Controversy erupts following Pegeia-Akamas' 18-0 win over APOEL in women's football

The opening match of the Women's Football Championship in Cyprus on October 3, 2026, resulted in a lopsided 18-0 victory for Pegeia-Akamas over APOEL. The lopsided scoreline drew immediate criticism from APOEL officials, specifically Haris Vasiliou, who questioned the sportsmanship of the winning side. Vasiliou noted that his team fielded only two foreign players and three girls under the age of 16, whereas Pegeia-Akamas utilized eight foreign players.

In response to accusations of poor sportsmanship, the president of Pegeia-Akamas Ladies FC, Haris Arkadiou, defended his team's performance. He rejected claims of a lack of fair play, emphasizing that he would not ask his players to stop playing or scoring. Arkadiou stated that his organization provided hospitality to the APOEL team, including food after the match and assistance when an opposing player was injured on the field, arguing that these actions demonstrated respect toward their opponents.