Appeals court rejects Cafu's sentence reduction request

On October 5, 2026, the Cyprus Football Association's (CFA) Appeals Court rejected an appeal filed by AEL Limassol regarding the suspension of their midfielder, Carlos Miguel Ribeiro Dias, known as Cafu. The player had been issued a six-match ban following an incident involving alleged spitting during a match against APOEL. The Appeals Court upheld the initial decision of the Judicial Committee by a 3-2 majority vote, maintaining the full duration of the penalty.

Cafu has already served two matches of his suspension. Following the court's confirmation, he is sidelined for an additional six games, including fixtures against Omonia 29M, Omonia Aradippou, Aris, Omonia Nicosia, Iraklis Gerolakkou (Cup), and Krasava. He is expected to be eligible to return to the squad on November 22 for the match against Karmiotissa. AEL Limassol officials have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ruling, citing concerns over judicial ethics and inconsistent treatment compared to other clubs.