FIFA, UEFA, CFA to discuss prospects for Cyprus football integration

FIFA, UEFA, and a high-ranking delegation from the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) will discuss next Monday the prospects for the reintegration of Turkish Cypriot football clubs into CFA.

''A meeting has been agreed for 12 January in Zurich between FIFA, UEFA and CFA to discuss further action regarding the reintegration of the Turkish Cypriots in CFA,'' Marios Lefkaritis, UEFA Executive Committee Vice Chairman and CFA honorary President told CNA today.

CFA Chairman Costas Koutsokoumnis, CFA Deputy Chairman Giorgos Koumas, A' Vice Chairman Charis Loizides and Lefkaritis will attend the meeting.

Since Cyprus has been divided, following the 1974 Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of the island’s northern part, the Turkish Cypriots have often claimed that ''a sports embargo'' is imposed by the government of Cyprus, which they do not recognise.

The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in northern Turkish occupied Cyprus wants to participate in international soccer matches and hold international football meetings, a move which seeks to bypass the CFA, the sole and only legitimate representative of Cyprus football in the world governing bodies of the sport, FIFA and UEFA.

The CFA has proposed that the Turkish Cypriot football clubs join the Association and be allowed to hold football matches with clubs from other countries. Talks on the matter are continuing among interested parties.

When the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot football clubs were members of the CFA. Following intercommunal fighting in the early 1960s, the Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government of Cyprus and its institutions.