Fifth round of Cyprus League by Stoiximan features return of foreign VAR officials

The fifth round of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan is underway, spanning from October 9 to October 12, 2026. The action commenced on Friday with Omonia Nicosia defeating Karmiotissa Polemidion 3-0 at the Stelios Kyriakidis Stadium. The schedule continues through the weekend with key fixtures including Krasava ENY versus Apollon Limassol and APOEL Nicosia against Nea Salamina, while Sunday features matches such as Anorthosis Famagusta versus Pafos FC.

A notable development in this round is the Cyprus Football Association's (CFA) decision to appoint foreign VAR officials, specifically Italian referee Gianluca Aureliano, for high-profile matches including APOEL-Nea Salamina and Anorthosis-Pafos FC. This follows a pattern from the previous season where foreign VAR officials were introduced during the fifth round, a move aimed at addressing criticism regarding the standard of domestic officiating. Aureliano is a well-known figure in Cyprus, having previously officiated and served as a VAR in several controversial matches.

Simultaneously, the league is dedicating this round to an awareness campaign for 'Safe Gaming' in collaboration with the National Betting Authority, with players displaying special banners. Meanwhile, internal reports suggest disciplinary actions may be pending for local referees following recent controversies in league matches.