Referee decisions draw criticism during Akritas Chlorakas and Pafos match

On March 14, 2026, the football match between Akritas Chlorakas and Pafos FC saw two significant refereeing incidents within the first 15 minutes. In the 5th minute, Akritas players protested for a penalty after a challenge by Bruno on Manu, but referee Menelaos Antoniou declined to award it, a decision supported after a VAR review. Following the protests, Fernandes received a yellow card. In the 17th minute, Pafos FC appealed for a penalty following a handball by Romo. Although VAR official Dimitris Solomou recommended a review, Antoniou upheld his initial decision after an on-field review, deeming the hand position natural. These incidents led to widespread discussion regarding the referee's officiating standards during the game.