Apollon Limassol captain gestures to former player Haris Kyriakou

During a Cypriot First Division football match on April 5, 2026, Apollon Limassol captain Giorgos Malekkidis was photographed kissing the forehead of former Apollon captain Haris Kyriakou. The event occurred in Limassol as Kyriakou faced his former club for the first time. Reports indicate that while some Apollon fans expressed mild disapproval, the gesture was largely received as a sign of mutual respect between the players. Following the match, Apollon coach Losada stated that the performance was one of the team's best, emphasizing a need for competitiveness moving forward. AEK Larnaca representatives noted that while they could have won, the final result was arguably fair. The match took place amidst a broader climate of tension in the league, with APOEL FC publicly requesting a meeting with the Cyprus Football Association to demand the appointment of foreign referees for the remainder of the season.