Former CFA president Giorgos Koumas denies all 25 charges in court

Former Cyprus Football Association (CFA) president Giorgos Koumas appeared before the Nicosia District Court and pleaded not guilty to all 25 charges brought against him. The charges, covering the period from 2015 to 2025, include 23 counts related to potential conflict of interest and incompatibility, as well as two counts of money laundering involving approximately 6.5 million euros. The case involves alleged improper dealings with organizations including the CFA, Cyta, Cablenet, GO PLC, the Nicosia Horse Racing Club, and the Cyprus Basketball Federation. The indictment claims these activities violated laws regarding the manipulation of sports events and the Criminal Code, specifically involving the management of television and digital rights. The defense team, led by Chris Triantafyllides and Marios Orphanides, is reportedly seeking a Certiorari order from the Supreme Court to cancel a property freezing order worth 3.4 million euros. The court proceeding was scheduled to start at 08:30 but began after 10:00 due to scheduling notifications, with the judge setting November 23, 2026, as the date for the commencement of the hearing. Concerns have been raised regarding the significant delays in processing this case, which was first highlighted in 2018.