by halil » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:09 pm
CFA under fire for blocking Turkish Cypriots
By John Leonidou
THE CYPRUS Football Association has come on the end of a scathing attack from an official of FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe).
The CFA is the only football association recognised by the world governing body for football FIFA, despite calls from the Turkish Cypriot football association also to be recognised.
Turkish Cypriot teams are demanding the right to play in official FIFA and UEFA games and claim they are being denied the right by the CFA, who continue to veto their calls to play international matches.
Speaking an interview with the London Turkish Gazette, FARE director Piara Power hit out against the CFA in particular after the incident in which objections were raised against a friendly set to take place in the north between English side Luton Town and Turkish Cypriot team ?etinkaya.
Power described the CFA’s vetoing of Turkish Cypriots as wrong, accusing the association of depriving Turkish Cypriots of the right to “nurture, develop and give people opportunities”.
“At the heart of the issue is an injustice and this reflects the situation in North Cyprus in general,” he told the paper.
“For instance, it reflects the fact that things have been lumbering along for so long and that political ramblings are preventing people from moving on with their lives.
“Football in particular is an interesting mirror as to what is going on in our societies and this particular situation highlights the way in which, certainly this football club [?etinkaya], and Turkish Cypriots in general are not being able to realise their full potential.”
Powers even went as far as to say that their should be two separate football associations on the island, despite the position of FIFA that it only recognises the official football association operating for the Republic of Cyprus.
“What can be said is that the Cypriot FA should not have the right of veto over TRNC teams playing nationally – that’s wrong,” he said.
“As a governing body you have rights and responsibilities to nurture, develop and give people opportunities. To prevent people from making contact is an absolute injustice.”
“Given the constitution of Cyprus, with borders in place, there should be a North Cyprus FA and a South Cyprus FA. They should have the status of a governing body and be taking positions within UEFA. They should have the right to veto within their own countries, not over each other. [The current situation] just doesn't make sense.”
CFA Chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis was yesterday unavailable for comment.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007