Two foreign footballers deported from Cyprus over expired residence permits

Two foreign professional football players have been deported from Cyprus following their arrest several weeks ago. The athletes had been residing in the country illegally for approximately three years. Despite their expired legal status, it was discovered that they had recently signed a new contract with a local football club, which prompted coordinated intervention by the Police and the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection.

This incident has highlighted systemic flaws regarding the entry and employment of third-country athletes in Cyprus. To address these issues and prevent the potential exploitation of players, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolas A. Ioannides, convened a meeting on October 7, 2026, with the leaders of major sports organizations, including the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) and the Cyprus Football Association (CFA). Subsequently, on October 21, the Ministry issued a formal notice to all sports federations and clubs, mandating that they take corrective actions to ensure compliance with immigration laws for foreign personnel.