AEL Limassol protests officiating in cup semifinal against Pafos FC

AEL Limassol has formally protested the officiating during their 1-2 cup semifinal loss against Pafos FC. Club spokesperson Nikolas Leventis and president Konstantinos Konstantinou criticized the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) for appointing Estonian referees, claiming they lacked sufficient experience for a high-stakes match. The club submitted a formal letter to the CFA and the Referee Committee containing seven specific questions regarding the selection criteria, the lack of an elite-category referee, and potential conflicts of interest concerning the referees' origin. While AEL officials labeled the referees inexperienced, other reports indicate that the officials have previous experience in UEFA Conference and Europa League matches. The club is now demanding access to audio recordings of communications between the referee and the VAR. Despite the setback, AEL remains focused on the upcoming second leg to overturn the aggregate score.