With today's decision, the Court of Appeals overturned the first instance decision of the sports judge to nullify AEK. It is true that this development surprised many, but experience proves that in a court case it is dangerous to make predictions.
Going back in time, we will remember that this is not the first time that a first instance decision has been overturned. In 2014, AEL and APOEL were confronted in the judicial committee (since February 2015, there was a decision by the board of directors of the KOP for the judicial committee to operate with a sports judge) for a game that would decide the title.
Specifically, in the last match of 2013-2014 (17/5/2014), the “final of the championship” between AEL and APOEL in Tsirio was set, in a match that was marked by the suspension of the match.
The Limassol team was in first place with a difference of three points from the Nicosia team (81 against 78). While the title was leaning towards Limassol (based on the score that was 0-0), a crack at the beginning of the replay from the AEL stand hit the bench of APOEL resulting in Kaka being injured and causing an upset. After several consultations, the referee Dimitris Massias stopped the match in the 51st minute. The judicial committee decided to repeat the game in a neutral stadium, without spectators, while an appeal by APOEL followed.
Meanwhile, the situation smelled of gunpowder, with statements that ignited the atmosphere. The members of the Court of Appeal are resigning and pending the decision, the match is scheduled to take place on 31/05/2014 at “Antonis Papadopoulos”. APOEL with a goal by Seridan in 45΄ + 1΄ wins 1-0, is equal to AEL in the first place (81), but prevails over the Limassol team in the games between them.
Subsequently, the KOP appoints an Arbitration Disciplinary Committee to examine the appeal of APOEL and in a meeting on 6/6/2014 decided to award the match in favor of the Nicosia team with 3-0.
We remind you of the decision as it was posted on the website of KOP on 6/7/2014:
“The decision of the majority of the Judicial Committee of KOP dated 22/05/2014 which was issued for the interrupted match of the” Glafkos Clerides “Championship that took place at Tsirio Stadium on 17/05/2014 between the teams AEL Limassol and APOEL Nicosia with which was ordered to repeat the match from the beginning, in a neutral stadium, without the presence of spectators, is canceled.
The majority of the Judicial Committee of the KOP misinterpreted and misapplied the regulations of both the Disciplinary Code and the Notice based on the findings which it found and adopted.
Therefore, the above match that took place at Tsirio Stadium on 17/05/2014 between the teams AEL Limassol and APOEL Nicosia and was stopped in the 51st minute, is awarded in favor of the team of APOEL with a score of 3-0 “.
