Following the post, APOEL also issued a statement regarding the Kafou incident, emphasizing that the spitting was captured on camera and has been verified by the relevant authorities. At the same time, the club questions how the incident went unnoticed at the time it occurred, despite the presence of VAR, the referee, and the assistant referees.
The “blue-and-yellows” express their strong opposition to linking APOEL’s name with the word “manipulation,” in the wake of the Ethics Committee’s investigation, referring to it as “shadow theater” and a “publicity stunt.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
At the same time, they reiterate President Haris Fotiou’s proposal for a general meeting of all clubs, in order to comprehensively discuss the problems facing Cypriot soccer and establish a common direction aimed at improving the sport.
The official statement reads as follows: “The farce that has been unfolding for the past two weeks, triggered by the unsportsmanlike act of an AEL player who spat on an APOEL player, must finally come to an end.
There is absolutely no dispute about one thing: the spitting occurred. This is not an assessment, interpretation, or subjective judgment. It has been captured by all available footage and cameras and has already been verified by the relevant authorities.
And yet, instead of this specific act serving as a self-evident example of what to avoid, for the past two weeks we have been witnessing a whirlwind of controversy regarding both the incident itself and the process by which it was punished.
So let’s ask a simple question:
How is it possible that in a match with ten cameras, with three people in the VAR room who have unobstructed access to them, with the first assistant referee standing about three meters from the incident and the referee also nearby, that absolutely nothing was detected at that moment?
And while that should be the real question, today we find ourselves hearing about an independent investigation by the Ethics Committee regarding possible “match-fixing.”
The only act that has been proven to tarnish the sporting integrity of this particular match is the unsportsmanlike conduct captured on camera. The real paradox is not that the incident was identified after the fact. The real paradox is that, despite the presence of so many officials, so many cameras, and an entire VAR system, none of the responsible parties present at the time noticed it as it happened.
So instead of discussing how to ensure that such actions are not repeated and that soccer’s systems function effectively, we have been led to an unprecedented distortion of reality.
We understand and acknowledge AEL’s right to appeal to any body it wishes.
However, we will not allow either AEL or anyone else to associate the word “manipulation” with the name of APOEL. Because that is what is being implied. And especially in a match where APOEL’s dominance on the field is indisputable from the first minute to the last.
This unfiltered frenzy of impressions must stop. The lack of critical thinking and understanding of the facts exposes everyone, and this is ultimately one of the biggest problems with everything we’ve been hearing and reading lately about a single match. Instead of posing the real questions to the public, we’ve ended up with a shadow play. This charade must come to an end at some point.
And there’s only one way for it to end and for change to happen: when we—the very people who manage, participate in, or work in sports—realize that we need to change. Change for the better will happen when we, the stakeholders, change first and eliminate this one-sided fan-driven mindset. If we remain stuck in this mindset, then the downward spiral will continue. Eliminating toxicity and doing away with the need to be liked is the only path to real change for the good of the sport.
We publicly reiterate the proposal made by APOEL President Haris Fotiou at the recent meeting of club presidents in Limassol.
We call for a broad and inclusive meeting of all clubs to address all issues pertaining to Cypriot soccer. With the ultimate goal of advancing the sport and improving the quality of soccer for all fans. A meeting where all teams will participate ON ALL ISSUES AND NOT JUST THOSE THAT EXCLUSIVELY CONCERN EACH OF THEM, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE UNTIL NOW.
As APOEL, we are ready to discuss everything, to resolve all issues, and to reach a collective conclusion and a common direction among all teams in Cyprus. This is the only way to move forward with a single goal in mind: the good of the sport.”
