Cypriot clubs express strong dissatisfaction with refereeing and VAR decisions

Following the matches held on October 26, 2026, several Cypriot football clubs voiced strong complaints regarding refereeing and VAR interventions. AEK Larnaca representative Kyriakos Dimitriou criticized the officiating in their 2-0 victory over Omonia, specifically highlighting an incident in the 53rd minute involving an alleged punch by Duverne against Milicevic that went unpunished. AEK is currently evaluating whether to file a formal complaint regarding this incident, as well as uncalled fouls at the end of the first half.

Simultaneously, Nea Salamina official Giorgos Michael expressed his dissatisfaction by posting images of disputed offside decisions from their matches against Apollon and AEL, questioning the integrity of current VAR standards. Additionally, Pafos FC announced plans to report referee Dimitris Solomou, who served as the VAR official in their match against Nea Salamina, citing a missed penalty call that they believe significantly impacted the outcome of the game. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns regarding the consistency and effectiveness of the VAR system in the Cypriot league, with clubs seeking greater accountability from match officials as the season progresses.