Barcelona's training camp in the north was cancelled following direct intervention by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), CFA president Haris Loizidis told CNA, stressing that the development is "no cause for celebration."
The CFA intervened immediately, both formally and behind the scenes, after learning of Barcelona's plans to hold a training camp in the north, contributing to its cancellation, Loizidis said.
He stressed, however, that the development does not call for celebrations or fanfare, underlining that the federation will continue to closely monitor similar moves and intervene whenever violations of FIFA and Uefa regulations are identified.
According to Loizidis, as soon as the CFA learned of the planned camp in the north, it established that there were serious violations of international football federation regulations. "The CFA's job is to oversee the rules relating strictly to the football dimension, while also taking into account the prevailing political circumstances," he said, noting that monitoring political matters and any potential breach of EU decisions or UN resolutions falls under the responsibility of other competent authorities.
At the same time, Loizidis said, the CFA wants to remind everyone, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, of the 2013 agreement between FIFA, Uefa, the CFA and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation, signed in Zurich, which opened the way for children to play football within FIFA and Uefa regulations. "Those who refuse to implement this agreement also bear responsibility for the current situation," Loizidis concluded.
Source: CNA
