Police have launched an investigation into sexist remarks made by former footballer Costas Malekkos during an interview on Alpha TV about women’s role in Cypriot society.
Police spokesperson Eleni Constantinou told state radio CyBC that complaints had been filed by organisations and instructions were given to investigate the matter.
Constantinou said authorities were examining whether the statements violated any laws.
POGO women’s organisation and the Single Parent Families Association had called for police intervention, citing the 2000 Anti-Sexism Act.
The complaints stem from Malekkos’s appearance on the “Sunday Night” show, where, during a discussion about relationship crises with host Christiana Aristotelous, he made several sexist statements about gender roles and marriage.
During the broadcast, Malekkos told Aristotelous: “If you decide to get married, you must accept each other’s mistakes and stay with your children. If you divorce Efrem in ten years, I will find you and kill you. I don’t understand, has it become fashionable?”
He further stated: “Women have taken the wrong path. Men are men. Full stop. When your man at home isn’t a man, you will divorce him”.
When the host questioned whether men had remained on the right path whilst women had gone astray, Malekkos responded: “A man has the right, because he is a man… You women must accept that the man is the leader”.
Malekkos, 53, is considered one of the best Cypriot players of all-time.
He played in Omonia, Apoel, Olympiacos Nicosia, AEL Limassol, Apollon Limassol, PAEEK and Panathinaikos.
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