Greek Cypriot pressure halts football match in Turkish Cyprus

The cancellation disappointed Turkish Cypriot fans, who have been starved of international football action.

Intense lobbying by Greek Cypriot authorities caused the last minute cancellation of a friendly match between Turkish Cypriot soccer club Cetinkaya and British first league team Luton Town, scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Though both Luton and Cetinkaya, the reigning Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) football champions, were at Lefkosa Ataturk Stadium in the British League side ended up having a private training session.

The Cyprus Football Association, which only represents the Greek Cypriot clubs on the island, had complained to FIFA, UEFA and the English Football Association, that the game was not officially sanctioned.Had the match gone ahead, it would have been the first time that an English club would have played in the TRNC, which has had an international embargo placed on it, limiting trade, travel and sporting links.