Turkish Cyprus blasts Greek side’s football-blocking move

LEFKOSA – Anadolu Agency

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on April 9 criticized the Greek side’s attempts to block the Turkish Cypriot National Football Team from participating in an upcoming independent football associations’ cup in London.

In a statement, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry blasted the initiative to block the Turkish side’s involvement in the football cup, set to be held between May 31 and June 9, as “disrespectful.”

The ministry called the intolerance of Greek Cypriots living abroad towards a peaceful sports activity “alarming.”

“This and similar initiatives of the mentality that is troubled by our presence in such an activity organized by the Confederation of Independent Football Associations serves no purpose but to deepen the distrust between the two communities,” the statement added.

The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turks and Turkey’s military intervention as a guarantor power.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared on Nov. 15, 1983. It is currently recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.