June 29 – Disputes in Cypriot football continue in full force. The Cypriot First Division match between Othellos and AEL Limassol was postponed after the hosts failed to provide the mandatory medical team for the game.
Minutes before the start of the match, with the players of both teams and the referees warming up, it became clear that the hosts had not provided a medical team.
According to the rules of the Cyprus Football Federation, a match in any professional league in Cyprus cannot start without the presence of a medical official.
Head referee Panagiotis Hatzigeorgiou gave a time limit of 20 minutes for a medical team to be provided for the match to start. After Othellos failed to find a doctor, the referee followed the protocol and postponed the match.
Cyprus Football Federation rules state the home team should be penalized with a 3-0 loss. In the coming days, the Disciplinary Committee of the Cyprus Football Federation will decide on Othellos’ punishment.
Othellos president Antonis Cheilimidris said that the doctor had mistaken the kick off time of the game and thought that the match would start an hour later.
“While we were waiting for the match to start, suddenly we were told that there is no doctor in the stadium. The doctor thought the game would start at 18:00 instead of 17:00. The referees said the delay could not exceed 20 minutes and the game was postponed. Sure, it’s our responsibility, it’s clean. I’m very disappointed; I honestly don’t know how to proceed,” said Cheilimidris.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1714345120labto1714345120ofdlr1714345120owedi1714345120sni@o1714345120fni1714345120