The Tax Department is preparing criminal charges against more than 100 current and former directors and board members of football clubs over unpaid taxes totalling €35.5 million.
Philenews sources say that tax officials are finalising charges against club directors who failed to submit tax returns and pay taxes between July 1, 2007 and March 31, 2023, when the latest debt repayment scheme for football clubs was implemented.
Sources say the list includes prominent football executives and former government officials. In one club alone, more than 50 individuals face potential prosecution due to repeated non-compliance across multiple tax periods and various tax laws.
Separately, APOEL FC executives are due to appear before the Nicosia District Court today over €2.3 million in outstanding social insurance contributions.
The case involves five criminal charges for the period 2020-2022, covering unpaid contributions to social insurance, annual leave, redundancy, human resource development, and national health insurance funds.
The club’s total social insurance debt stands at €4.3 million. Sources said APOEL paid €40,000 towards these arrears on Monday, but prosecutors consider this sum insufficient and will proceed with the case.
The club is expected to request an adjournment to negotiate a payment plan with the government.
Most major clubs have been excluded from the government’s debt repayment scheme launched in 2023 due to non-compliance.
APOEL, AEL, Apollon and Anorthosis, with combined debts of €25.6 million, are among those removed from the scheme. Eight other clubs have also been excluded.
Only Omonia Nicosia, which has €4.9 million in tax arrears but no new debts since 2023, remains in the scheme along with Pafos FC, which has expressed intention to settle its €1.18 million debt, PAEEK Kyrenia and Akritas Chlorakas.
Finance Minister Makis Keravnos told philenews that clubs have not responded to government efforts to resolve the impasse, adding that evidence will soon be forwarded to the Attorney General.
“All citizens will be treated equally,” he said, noting that while instalment plans are available, non-compliance will lead to prosecution.
