Seven football matches ‘may have been manipulated’

Investigations into football refereeing in Cyprus have revealed that as many as seven games may have been unduly manipulated over five years, it emerged on Tuesday.

The Sports ethics committee announced the receipt of information from investigating officers looking into football refereeing, with the investigators having concluded that seven matches played between 2019 and last year may have been manipulated.

The investigators added that “a further seven different cases have been identified which must be further investigated by the police, as it appears they may involve influence or possible manipulation of the entire championship.”

In addition, the investigating officers listed a series of actions which the Cyprus Football Association could take to improve the situation, with those recommendations sent to the association.

The Sports ethics committee added that it will soon hold a meeting with Attorney-general George Savvides to deliver to him the investigators’ conclusions.