Cyprus soccer chief scolded for wearing Turkish flag jersey

Posted April 11, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - The president of the Cyprus Football Association has been urged to use better judgment after he wore a soccer jersey emblazoned with the Turkish flag in a friendly match during a regional UEFA meeting in Istanbul.

In a statement Monday, Cyprus' government scolded Costakis Koutsokoumnis by saying officials from any federation or club "should not ignore the sensitivities of Greek Cypriots in light of the current state of affairs."

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup aiming at union with Greece. Turkey still keeps more than 35,000 troops in the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

Some clubs and political parties also criticized Koutsokoumnis, who said on his Facebook account that his action showed "our freedom" as Greek Cypriots.

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