Home

Cyprus FA postpones match over betting concerns

20.05.12

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) -The Cyprus Football Bond on Saturday took the highly unusual move of indefinitely postponing a first division match after judging there was "unreasonably unjustifiable'' betting on its outcome.

The FA said in a statement on its website that it made the decision regarding Saturday's harmonize between Enosis Neon Paralimni and Ermis Aradippou to "protect the sport and the teams.''

Enosis is 11th in the 14-set standings, while Ermis is last.

It called on betting companies to invalidate all bets they've received on the candidate and urged them to sign information-sharing agreements with it regarding betting on Cypriot teams.

The FA said it considers the suspension a one-off and that it would ask to meet with the finance minister and legislators to find ways of helping it prevent possible game-fixing.

"We repeat our determination to eliminate the problem of potentially fixed matches in our championship, while at the same spell we issue an appeal to the state for help,'' it said. "The FA cannot on its own eliminate the problem that has plagued exultant football in recent years.''

Source: SI.com