Cypriot football authorities address arbitration and VAR concerns

The Cyprus Football Association (KOP) and the Cyprus Sports Journalists Association recently held a seminar for sports writers to discuss changes in officiating regulations. During the event at the Allwyn 'Eu Agonizesthai' hall, KOP President Charis Loizidis criticized the public discourse surrounding referees, urging journalists to be fair and avoid the character assassination of officials. Loizidis acknowledged that the system is still struggling with the implementation of VAR, which has led to the inclusion of foreign video assistant referees since the fifth matchday of the season.

The debate intensified following the match between APOEL and Nea Salamina, where critical decisions regarding a penalty and a potential red card remained unchanged despite VAR intervention. Although Nea Salamina expressed strong reservations about the current officiating system and the explanations provided by Head of Refereeing Antonio Damato, club spokesperson Loizos Moiseos stated they would not formally lodge a complaint. Instead, the club opted to donate the funds intended for the appeal to charity, citing a lack of faith in the current review process. Meanwhile, the KOP continues to seek a balance between supporting local referees and ensuring fair outcomes for clubs.