Cyprus Football Federation’s intervention was prompt and in secret and led to the cancellation of a Barcelona training camp that was set to take place in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas, CFA President Haris Loizides told the Cyprus News Agency on Friday.
He said that the cancellation itself does not call for any celebrations, pointing out that the CFA will continue to closely monitor such actions and intervene when a violation of FIFA and UEFA regulations is detected. Loizides noted that there is an agreement between FIFA, UEFA, CFA and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation in 2013, which paved the way for Turkish Cypriots to compete within the framework of FIFA and UEFA regulations.
CFA Chair said that once it was informed about the camp in the occupied areas, it was clear that there were serious violations of the regulations of the international football federations.
He went on to say that CFA’s job is to supervise the rules that concern purely the football aspect, while taking into account the prevailing political situation. But he underlined that ”monitoring political issues and potential violations of EU decisions and UN resolutions is the responsibility of other competent authorities”.
Loizides stressed that CFA wants to remind everyone, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, that there is the 2013 agreement between FIFA, UEFA, CFA and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation, which was signed in Zurich, and based on this, ”the way was opened for children to compete within the framework of FIFA and UEFA regulations”.
‘Those who refuse to implement this agreement are also responsible for the current situation,’ he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. An illegal entity in the occupied areas unilaterally declared in 1983 is recognised only by Turkey.