Police have launched an investigation into comments made by former footballer Costas Malekos during a television interview, following a formal complaint by the women’s movement POGO over potential violations of anti-sexism laws.
POGO filed complaints with multiple authorities, including the Justice Minister, Police Chief, Law Commissioner, and Cyprus Radio Television Authority, police spokesperson Kyriaki Lambrianidou told CNA.
“The police will investigate POGO’s complaints as per our duty. Instructions for investigation have already been issued,” Lambrianidou said. Investigators will examine Malekos’s statements in detail and may call him for questioning if offences are found to have been committed.
Under Cyprus law, anyone intentionally engaging in sexist behaviour faces up to one year in prison, a fine of up to €5,000, or both penalties if convicted.
POGO’s complaint specifically references Malekos’s appearance on Alpha Cyprus’s “Sunday Night” show broadcast on December 8 at 21:00, calling for action regarding the content of his interview.
During the broadcast, Malekkos told host Christiana 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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