Clubs strike over state grant cuts

Football clubs in Cyprus have taken the unprecedented step of going on strike in order to protest against a reduction in state grants. The government insists that the clubs must put their own house in order and eliminate collective debts of €30m if they are to receive more state money. "We have been in a desperate situation for some time, we want to find solutions and continue the championship," Cyprus Football Association (CFA) chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis was reported as saying. "We are not asking for taxpayers’ money although we have a right to," he added. the CFA, Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOP) and Finance Minister Makis Keravnos are to set up a scheme whereby clubs would receive about €2.5m annually for a period of five years, to gradually pay off outstanding monies. Clubs had boycotted the domestic league for more than a week.

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