Former Cyprus Football Association (CFA) president George Koumas is due to appear in Nicosia District Court on 26 February 2026 after being served with an indictment containing 25 charges linked to a probe that began in 2023.
The case stems from a long-running investigation into alleged conflicts of interest and the handling of commercial rights in Cypriot sport. In late 2023, the CFA’s own ethics committee raised concerns over potential governance issues, particularly relating to television rights contracts and internal oversight.
Following the committee’s findings, the Attorney General authorised a criminal inquiry and appointed an independent investigator, who said she found sufficient evidence to justify charges and highlighted weaknesses in how the football association was supervised.
The indictment alleges that Koumas, during his tenure as deputy president and then president of the CFA, maintained links through companies and associates with organisations operating commercially in sport, in breach of the Law on Combating the Manipulation of Sports Events and Article 20 of the Criminal Code.
The allegations cover the period 2015–2025 and involve agreements with bodies including the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), Cablenet, GO PLC, the Nicosia Race Club and the Cyprus Basketball Federation.
According to the indictment, Koumas’s links included activities such as the production and live broadcast of sporting events, television rights management, and the exploitation of internet and mobile rights for football, basketball and horse racing.
Counts 24 and 25 concern alleged money-laundering offences, with the total value of transactions in question said to be around €6.5 million, arising from the activities described earlier in the indictment.
Koumas is listed in the indictment as Accused 1. Two other defendants are companies said to have been under his control: one in which he was a shareholder and director that entered into broadcast agreements, and another providing live streaming, rights management and sports programme production services.
Koumas resigned as CFA president in June 2025, saying at the time that he was stepping down to protect the sport. His lawyers have said they will respond through the proper legal process once they have had time to review the indictment.
In court on 26 February, the defence is expected to request an adjournment to allow time to study the evidence, and a new hearing date will be set.
Read more:
