CFA decides on 12 clubs for next season’s top flight

The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) has finally decided that next season’s top division will involve the participation of 12 clubs.

This comes after the suggestion of certain clubs that the original plan of relegating a total of four sides this season, two directly and a further two decided through a playoff process, be scrapped in favour of only two sides going down this season. This would have meant that a 14-club season in 2021-2022 would have to be adopted.

Anorthosis Famagusta, Apoel Nicosia, Apollon Limassol, Omonia Nicosia and Pafos FC voted against the above amendment. Any changes to the original plan require a four fifths majority to go through.

However, one proposed change has managed to go through. Rather than two sides being directly relegated at the end of the regular season with another two being relegated in a post-regular season mini league, the CFA and the clubs decided that no club will be relegated immediately at the end of the regular season.

Instead, the end of the regular season, starting from the current one, will see clubs divided into two mini leagues. The first group remains unchanged, with the top six clubs competing for the title and European qualification. The second group will now involve all eight clubs which will play among themselves to avoid relegation, with four of them being relegated.

Earlier on Thursday, Pafos FC tabled a late proposal which would have seen the league being divided into two groups of seven for both the current and following three seasons. Their proposal, however, was rejected by all other clubs.