Former president of Cyprus football association pleads not guilty to 25 charges

Giorgos Koumas, the former president of the Cyprus Football Association (KOP), has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges at the Nicosia District Court. The indictment covers the period between 2015 and 2025 and includes 23 charges related to potential conflicts of interest and violations of the Law on Combating the Manipulation of Sports Events, as well as two charges regarding money laundering involving approximately 6.5 million euros. Prosecutors allege that during his tenure, Koumas maintained prohibited ties through his companies, Triple AAA Productions Limited and Triple AAA Village Studios Ltd, with organizations such as the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), Cablenet, GO PLC, the Nicosia Horse Racing Club, and the Cyprus Basketball Federation. Legal proceedings were delayed on the day of the hearing, with the defense noting they were instructed by the court to appear later than the initially scheduled time. Koumas's legal team, Chris Triantafyllides and Marios Orphanides, intends to file an application for a Certiorari order at the Supreme Court to challenge a previous asset freeze amounting to 3.4 million euros. The main trial for the 25 charges has been scheduled for November 23, 2026, at 10:30.