The President of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), George Koumas, finds himself in hot water following the findings of an investigation conducted by officials appointed by the sports ethics committee. The investigation sought to determine whether his roles as a sports official and entrepreneur were in conflict.
According to Phileleftheros, the testimonies presented in the investigation leave no room for doubt regarding the alleged conflicts of interest, with explicit references pointing to potential impropriety. Furthermore, the investigation suggests that Koumas through his actions may have had the power to manipulate the outcome of the football league.
Of particular concern is the accusation of manipulation, as the report highlights multiple clear instances of wrongdoing. Specifically, a high-ranking figure in Cypriot football is alleged, based on witness testimonies, to have distributed funds among football clubs. These funds were reportedly derived from the sale of television broadcasting rights to Cytavision, with Koumas having full discretion over how much each club received.
The investigative work conducted by legal experts Elias Stefanou and Efthymios Efthymiou has uncovered compelling evidence of conflicts of interest in at least three cases, potentially violating Article 14 of the Law on Combating Match-Fixing in Sports.
The conflict of interest arises from Koumas’ role as a high-ranking official in the Cyprus Football Federation, coupled with his various roles as a television rights trader, sports television production company owner, and individual with interests in an athlete and club agency.
The severity of the conflicts of interest is underscored by the investigators’ findings, which suggest that Koumas, thanks to his multiple roles, may have been distributing television rights funds to football clubs according to his own discretion. This practice could have influenced the final rankings of the championship.
Phileleftheros outlines the key points from the investigators’ report, which was recently submitted to the sports ethics committee:
- The report initially outlines Koumas’ professional and entrepreneurial roles, his collaboration with Cytavision both as the President of the CFA and as an entrepreneur, and his management of television rights for clubs participating in the CFA TV. These factors, the report argues, substantiate the allegations of conflicts of interest.
- Regarding the risk of manipulation, the investigators suggest that it extends beyond individual matches and could impact the entire league. They explain that, based on witness testimony, funds from Cytavision were distributed to clubs in violation of agreements, either in terms of quantity or timing, thereby creating an unfair advantage for certain clubs.
- The report further details a witness account claiming that money given by Cytavision to the CFA was distributed by Koumas according to his own preferences, in contravention of agreements with clubs.
- According to sources, the report also references another witness statement, indicating that the CFA acted at the discretion and supervision of Koumas.
- Additionally, it highlights how Koumas received millions from Cytavision through television agreements and sponsorship deals and distributed them as he saw fit. The report concludes by stressing that these practices altered the balance within the competition, giving some clubs an unfair advantage over others.
A €200,000 bonus
Phileleftheros sources also reveal that one club received a bonus of €200,000 without apparent justification, even though the club had been involved in suspicious betting activities.
“A Series of Legal and Constitutional Rights Violations”
Following yesterday’s announcement of the sports ethics committee’s findings and the apparent conflicts of interest involving Koumas, his legal representatives issued a statement.
Lawyers Christos Triantafyllides and Marios Orphanides, in their written statement, argue that their client’s rights have been violated. They state, “As legal representatives of George Koumas, President of the Cyprus Football Association, we have been made aware of the announcement by the Ethics and Sports Protection Committee. At this stage, we do not wish to comment on the announcement, given that we are not in possession of the investigators’ report.”
They add: “During the investigation, we became aware of a series of violations of both legal and constitutional rights of our client, as well as other officials of the Cyprus Football Association. Furthermore, it is our understanding that the report was prepared without considering our client’s perspective and the views of other Cyprus Football Association officials.”
The sports ethics committee rejected these claims in a statement issued late last night. “The Investigators repeatedly gave Mr. Koumas and other individuals directly connected to him the opportunity to come forward and provide their input but they chose not to,” the statement reads, underscoring that “Investigators are not allowed to answer questions from individuals under investigation.”
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