Cypriot football’s top clubs—including APOEL, AEL, Apollon, Anorthosis, and Ethnikos Achna—are facing an urgent deadline to settle substantial tax arrears with the state. The Tax Department has announced a freeze on criminal prosecutions against these clubs until the end of March, provided they clear their overdue payments.

A recent high-level meeting, led by Tax Commissioner Sotiris Markidis, brought together the presidents of the clubs for over an hour. Although no official statements were made, insiders reveal that each club must secure several hundred thousand euros—some even over one million—by the deadline.

The clubs have accrued around 5 million euros in total arrears, including roughly 4 million euros incurred since May 2023. Previous proposals by the clubs to gradually clear a portion of these debts through installments were rejected by the authorities, who insist on a more substantial, immediate payment.

Failure to meet these requirements could trigger criminal legal actions and severe sporting sanctions. Beyond potential court proceedings, clubs risk facing penalties from UEFA—ranging from exclusion from European competitions and transfer embargoes to point deductions in the domestic league—if they do not secure the necessary compliance certificates. The Ministry of Finance has made it clear that no such certificates will be issued until the clubs fulfill their outstanding obligations.

Amid mounting pressure, there is speculation that the clubs might seek political intervention, possibly by requesting a meeting with the President of the Republic, to negotiate a postponement or a revised payment plan.