GREEK CYPRIOT EMBARGOE ON CETINKAYA-LUTON TOWN FOOTBALL MATCH

Inhumane embargoes imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots have been once more experienced last night (11 July).

A football match, which was expected to be played at Lefkosa Ataturk Stadium between last year’s champion of the TRNC Super League Çetinkaya and Luton Town, English League One team could not be realized as a result of Greek Cypriot side’s pressure.

Çetinkaya football team went to the Ataturk Stadium at 8:30, half an hour before the match. Luton Town football team came to the stadium at 9:00pm and after 15 minutes started to limber up.

As a result of long discussions whether the match was going to be played or not, it was cancelled at the last minute as a result of Greek Cypriot side’s pressure and Turkish Cypriot football fans at the stadium protested this.

Meanwhile, President Mehmet Ali Talat, Parliament Speaker Fatma Ekenoglu, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý were present at the stadium.

It was reported that the Greek Cypriot administration all day carried out a pressure campaign by the UK Foreign Ministry and UK Football Federation.

The cancellation of the football match once more showed how severe the embargoes were on Turkish Cypriots.

Speaking after the cancellation of the match, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that the dominating attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, which did not want the Turkish Cypriots to even breathe, had been once more seen.