First Division football stadiums have, at least for the time being, avoided the prospect of closure after the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) and club representatives reached an agreement on how to resolve outstanding issues relating to CCTV systems at top-flight venues.
According to information obtained by Politis, the agreement establishes a new roadmap containing specific dates and obligations for stadium owners and operators in order to meet the requirements for upgrading their CCTV systems over the coming months.
Following yesterday's meeting, KOA sent a letter to all stakeholders setting out the agreed timetable.
Under the new framework, stadiums will continue to be regarded as licensed, provided that the agreed steps and deadlines are respected. It should be noted that all required technical interventions must be completed by 30 March 2027.
First test on 15 October
The first of the three key deadlines is 15 October.
By that date, a full assessment must be completed at every stadium, identifying exactly what remains outstanding in relation to CCTV technical specifications. In other words, a detailed record of deficiencies and the interventions required must be prepared so that every stadium owner or operator knows precisely what work must be undertaken.
The situation differs at AEK Arena, which does not face the same outstanding issues. According to information provided by the police, the surveillance system operating at the GSP Stadium is also considered satisfactory.
For the remaining stadiums, the required works will be determined according to the specific needs identified at each individual venue.
November milestone
The second key date is 15 November.
By then, all necessary documentation must be prepared and the procedures for procuring and commissioning the required works must have been launched.
The ultimate objective is for all upgrades to be completed by 30 March 2027.
The Ministry of Justice, which has been actively involved in discussions in recent days, also supports the agreed framework, as the CCTV issue is directly linked to stadium security and the ability to identify individuals involved in incidents.
It is recalled that a meeting was held at the Ministry of Justice last week, during which it was established that, despite interventions already carried out at several stadiums, surveillance systems still failed to meet all specifications set by the Stadium Licensing Authority and the police.
According to the report, this problem has existed for at least five years.
Chaos avoided, but costs remain unresolved
One of the main issues that remains open is the financial aspect.
KOA is expected to continue discussions with stadium owners and operators, as the cost of the necessary upgrades was one of the principal factors delaying full compliance with the requirements.
According to information obtained by Politis, KOA is expected to provide assistance, but is clearly not prepared to cover the entire cost of the upgrades.
The operation of CCTV systems is also regarded as critical to the effectiveness of the fan card scheme.
Without adequate and sufficiently clear images from the stands, the ability to identify spectators who may be involved in crowd trouble or other unlawful activities is significantly restricted.
The agreement removes, at least for now, the possibility of disruption involving clubs' home venues or matches being played behind closed doors because of licensing problems.
The focus now shifts to implementation.
The deadlines have been set and, by 30 March 2027, the commitments made must have been translated into completed technical upgrades. Otherwise, any stadiums that fail to comply will cease operating.
