Israel gives the orders, the government carries them out’ – who will foot the bill?

Statements by G.Koukoumas, member of the Political Bureau of AKEL and MP

 

Uproar over Maccabi Tel Aviv in Limassol

9 October 2026, Astra radio

AKEL is raising serious questions about the concession of the ‘Spyros Kyprianou’ sports centre to Maccabi Tel Aviv, criticising the Christodoulides government’s stance towards Israel. The focus is on the transparency of the procedures, security, the financial cost and the implications for Cypriot teams.

AKEL accuses the Christodoulides government of adopting a stance towards Israel that goes beyond ‘the bounds of subservience, demanding clear answers regarding the conditions under which the decision was taken to grant the use of the ‘Spyros Kyprianou’ sports centre to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Speaking on Astra’s ‘Morning Edition’, AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas levelled sharp criticism at the government, expressing the suspicion that the decision was taken to satisfy a demand from the Israeli side, without the consequences for Cyprus having been adequately taken into account.

“We suspect what the whole world suspects. Namely, that once again Israel issued the orders and the Christodoulides government carried them out,” he stated.

“They are disregarding procedures, safety and costs”

Giorgos Koukoumas argued that the government appears willing to meet Israel’s demands, even when serious issues arise concerning the operation of Cypriot sports facilities.

As he alleged, there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that, because the request came from Israel, procedures, safety and risk considerations, as well as the financial cost, are being disregarded.

He made particular reference to the potential implications of granting use of the stadium to Cypriot teams and other organisations that use the facilities.

AKEL’s criticism centres on whether the government assessed the real needs of Cypriot sport before proceeding with this arrangement.

Who made the decision, and on what terms?

AKEL doesn’t confine itself to issuing public complaints, but is seeking an official briefing through parliamentary scrutiny.

In a question addressed to the competent Ministers of Justice and Education, Giorgos Koukoumas demands that the relevant correspondence be submitted, as well as any agreement concluded regarding the concession of the ‘Spyros Kyprianou’ stadium.

At the same time, he asks for clarification as to who took the final decision, which state or other bodies were involved in the process, and whether there was any prior consultation with the relevant local authorities.

AKEL also raises the issue of the fate of the Cypriot teams and other users of the sports centre, asking for clarification on how the impact on their programme will be addressed.

Will Cypriot taxpayers foot the bill for the security measures?

One of the most important questions concerns the cost of policing, security and the implementation of the necessary safety measures.

AKEL is seeking clarification on who will bear these costs and whether there is a specific agreement in place to cover them.

The issue takes on added significance given the possibility of up to 5,000 Maccabi supporters travelling to each match, a figure which is included in the concerns raised in the parliamentary question.

Giorgos Koukoumas is seeking clarification on whether the competent authorities have carried out a comprehensive risk assessment and what provisions are in place to protect citizens, athletes and facilities.

Questions regarding the history of incidents

AKEL also raises the issue of assessing the history of incidents linked to supporters of the Israeli team.

In his parliamentary speech, the AKEL MP refers to previous serious incidents and racist chants, for which, as he states, sanctions have been imposed on Maccabi by the Israeli Federation and the EuroLeague.

He therefore asks for clarification as to whether these facts were taken into account before the decision to grant the use of the sports centre was taken.

‘Beyond the bounds of subservience’

For AKEL, the case is not merely a matter of the management of a sports venue, but raises broader political questions about the Christodoulides government’s relationship with Israel.

Giorgos Koukoumas argued that the government’s stance in recent years has gone beyond the bounds of subservience, making pointed remarks about the way in which requests from the Israeli side are being handled.

AKEL is calling for clarification as to whether the decision was taken with the public interest, security and the needs of Cypriot sport in mind, or whether priority was given to satisfying Maccabi’s request.

The allegations and suspicions raised by AKEL do not in themselves constitute proof that procedures were bypassed or that the decision was imposed by Israel. They do, however, make it necessary to make the relevant documents and the terms of the concession public.

The government is now called upon to provide specific answers: who took the decision, who is paying, who is guaranteeing security, and who is taking responsibility for the consequences for the Cypriot teams.