CFA asks Spanish football chief to intervene over planned Barcelona camp in northern Cyprus

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Football Association chairman Haris Loizides has written to his Spanish counterpart Rafael Louzan, urging intervention to prevent a planned FC Barcelona academy training camp in northern Cyprus.

The CFA said on Tuesday that it acted after learning of the camp announcement and consulted Uefa, European football’s governing body.

Related: Cyprus International Rally brings 30 crews to championship decider

RelatedCyprus International Rally brings 30 crews to championship decider

Request to Spanish federation

Loizides requested Louzan’s intervention so that the camp would not take place in the occupied territories, the CFA said, describing the planned event as contrary to the current legal and regulatory framework.

The association said FC Barcelona had been asked to review the arrangements and either move the camp to a suitable and legally compatible location in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus or not hold it in Cyprus.

Camp arrangements

The two-week camp is scheduled for next month. It was most likely not organised centrally by FC Barcelona, but by its affiliate academy in Istanbul, headed by Albert Medall.

FC Barcelona licenses companies to run Barcelona Academy events. Official material for the planned Cyprus camp has featured Medall and Near East University public relations officer Ozer Turan. The camp is due to be hosted at the university’s facilities in northern Nicosia.

Nea Salamina appeal

First-division club Nea Salamina also wrote directly to FC Barcelona, saying it had remained a refugee in its own homeland for more than half a century, away from Famagusta and its historical home.

The club said FC Barcelona’s history gave it an understanding of identity, dignity, memory and resistance, referring to its “Mes que un club” motto.

Nea Salamina called on FC Barcelona to reconsider its position, cancel the camp in the occupied areas of Cyprus and withdraw any reference that could be perceived as legitimising an unrecognised entity.