Christos Spanos, president of the Cyprus Referees’ Association, made statements on “SPOR FM 95.0.”
He addressed the latest developments regarding refereeing following complaints from teams in the Cyprus League by Stoiximan and made a… strong statement, saying: “There is a targeted plan to eliminate Cypriot referees.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In detail
Regarding the announcement: “We have been following with concern the statements made by officials and press releases issued in recent days. We had a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) before the start of the league, and last year we had very few complaints or issues. This year, we noticed that before the start of the season, the teams were insistently requesting foreign referees. We were told that things had changed. Before the season started, the teams were asking for foreign referees—is that even possible before the league begins? This is a targeted attack on Cypriot referees and a plan to eliminate the Cypriot element. The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) supports Cypriot referees. It brought in Mr. Damatos and is allowing him to do his job. Both the Cyprus Referees’ Committee (SDK) and the CFA want to maintain last year’s model. A targeted plan was set in motion. Last year there were 13 matchdays; that number grew to 26, and our referees saw the season through. With the exception of last year, our referees had not officiated any major matches. They officiated 26 matchdays last year.”
On why they believe there is an effort to eliminate Cypriot referees: “I don’t know; other scenarios are being floated. So far, in the first four matchdays, there haven’t been any catastrophic mistakes. We can’t just start out with everyone wanting foreign referees. Mistakes can happen. There’s a committee and Mr. Damato to evaluate them. The intensity and tone of certain statements are excessive. They want to undermine the competitive capabilities of our referees. There is a cult of foreign referees—not just among referees but in soccer in general. We’ve seen a player play for five seconds and then get subbed out. This phenomenon of xenomania exists in all areas. When people say that Cypriot players, coaches, and referees aren’t good enough, it’s tragic. We talk about Cypriot soccer, but it isn’t really Cypriot soccer. Focusing on refereeing is a surefire way to attract attention; in most cases, the referee is the scapegoat, which is why the teams direct their attention there.”
Regarding the APOEL-AEL match: “We haven’t received any information from the CFF. We haven’t received any information beyond the announcement we all saw. If mistakes or omissions were made, we’ll wait for the findings. I can’t comment on anything I’m not aware of. My role is not to approach every referee and gather information. Our role is institutional; we have not received any information. On certain important issues, as we told the CFF, they must keep us informed.”
Regarding the referees and whether they themselves wonder if they’re giving people cause for criticism: “Our personal view is that there is talent. But a referee needs confidence. Often, the pressure is enormous. I believe they have the personality and the talent; they just need the right conditions to be able to do their job. Some referees have come into their own. When we first saw them in the First Division, suddenly we didn’t want to see them anymore. It’s a case of personal bias; they need time. We expect the refereeing department to evaluate and develop the referees.”
On foreign VAR officials: “At this stage, we’ve requested a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) before the season resumes to see what their intentions are. You can’t just cut back on the number of referees and exclude them from Cyprus’s top league. Their role is a difficult one. If I’m to engage in institutional dialogues and frameworks, that’s not their role. If we don’t eliminate prejudice, our referees can’t give their best if they don’t have support. Do you know what it means for a family to constantly see their father on the news? Let’s bring in foreigners to shut this whole thing down.”
On the meeting with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA): “If they tell us that foreign referees are coming, I cannot accept that. I believe the complaints are exaggerated. This was a deliberate plan to make this happen. If refereeing isn’t supported, we’ll face difficulties. It depends on everyone’s behavior; we need support from the clubs, the fans, and the journalists.”
