The Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol today sentenced a 44-year-old football coach and club official to four years in prison, after he admitted to serious charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor, child grooming for sexual purposes, and accessing child sexual abuse material.
The court imposed concurrent sentences of four years on the charges of accessing child sexual abuse material and child grooming, and three years on the sexual abuse charges. It also issued an order barring the defendant, for three years after his release, from offering services to children, working or being employed in places involving children, or living near organised places where children are present or gather.
How the case came to light
This is the case Phileleftheros first revealed, in which the defendant solicited nude photographs and videos from minor footballers, offering them money and sexual favours in exchange.
According to the case facts, the 44-year-old contacted minor footballers via Instagram and other messaging apps, requesting sexually explicit images in exchange for money. Two minors are alleged to have been involved as victims. In one instance, he is alleged to have proposed meeting one of the minors at a hotel in Limassol for a sexual act in exchange for €150. The offences were committed in June 2025.
The case came to light when other parents of minor footballers informed the parents of a 16-year-old, who immediately reported it to the authorities. In mid-June 2025, the 16-year-old reported that he played for a team where the 44-year-old served as a club official and, at times, as coach.
The 16-year-old’s account
According to his statement, contact between the two began in late 2024 over social media, initially about training, before it took on a sexual character. The defendant sent him a photograph and an explicit message, which made the minor uncomfortable. He told teammates, one of whom admitted he had received similar messages.
In January 2025, the 16-year-old was added by an unknown account to a group chat on a messaging app. He quickly realised the account belonged to the defendant, who continued contacting him, sending videos and images.
According to the 16-year-old’s account, a second minor reported being offered €50 and a sexual favour by the 44-year-old in exchange for nude photographs, and is alleged to have agreed. The 16-year-old also said that, after being pressured, he sent photographs, while the defendant is alleged to have sent him explicit images in return and asked him to send videos of sexual acts.
