Nea Salamina official criticizes refereeing in APOEL match

On October 10, 2026, Giorgos Michail, deputy president of Nea Salamina, publicly criticized the officiating during his club's football match against APOEL. The grievances center on specific refereeing decisions made by Marios Christoforou, particularly regarding a foul in the 74th minute involving players Joan Sastre and Alberto Varo.

Michail alleged that there was a clear foul on the player Grancir that went unpunished despite VAR intervention. He claimed that the referee admitted to him at halftime that the VAR official had identified a serious foul warranting a card, yet the match official failed to apply the appropriate disciplinary action. Michail’s public statement questioned the purpose of the VAR system and contained accusations of bias, suggesting that the officiating favored the opponent.

This incident follows recent tensions in Cypriot football surrounding refereeing standards. The club’s leadership continues to express frustration over the perceived lack of consistency in high-stakes matches. At this stage, no formal investigation or disciplinary proceedings have been announced, but the public comments by the club official highlight growing dissatisfaction with the current application of video technology in the league.