Tsirion Stadium fails safety inspection, football matches suspended indefinitely

Plans to host first-division football matches at the historic Tsirion Stadium in Limassol have been indefinitely postponed following a safety report from the Limassol District Self-Government Organization (EOA). The Cyprus Stadium Licensing Authority (AAS) decided against granting a license after the EOA inspection, conducted on August 7, identified the venue as a 'dangerous structure.

According to the report, the western stand is classified as a category B dangerous structure, while the eastern stand is deemed a category C dangerous structure due to severe concrete deterioration and a large 80-square-meter gap in the lower tier. Despite GSO (Gymnastic Association of Olympia) management claiming they had met previous requirements, such as CCTV installation, and had spent thousands on maintenance, the authorities have opted to cordon off the damaged sections. The stadium is currently utilizing tarpaulins to cover structural defects, a measure that has failed to satisfy safety standards.

The GSO board of directors held an emergency meeting on October 7 to review the findings. GSO President Kyriakos Tsolakis expressed frustration, noting that the organization received the inspection report only after it had been submitted to the licensing authority. The GSO is expected to challenge the report’s findings and seek state financial assistance to cover the significant costs required for repairs.