By Andrew Warshaw
February 21 – The prospect of Turkish Cypriot footballers playing for a national Cyprus team, ending more than half a century of isolation, has moved a step closer following the latest re-unification talks. Earlier this week, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials attended a reception held by the French ambassador in Nicosia aimed at strengthening ties between the two communities on the disputed Mediterranean island.
After months of sensitive negotiations, a major milestone in the history of Cypriot football was reached last November when both sides signed a provisional agreement with FIFA after decades of mistrust. The two sides have not played together since 1955 when they were forced to go their separate ways because of inter-communal tensions.
The island has been divided politically since the 1974 Turkish military intervention. Turkish Cypriots decided to form their own federation and organise their own league but they remain excluded from international competition. Although United Nations efforts at re-unification are still ongoing, they have so far failed to yield results, with football playing the major unification role.
This week’s meeting, attended by both Cyprus Football Association head Costakis Koutsokoumnis and his Turkish Cypriot opposite number Hasan Sertoglu (pictured) was hailed as another major step on the ladder to re-unification.
Sertoglu announced the end of restrictions on Turkish-Cypriot players being selected for the Cyprus national team – though this is still some way off in reality – while Greek Cypriot players are also free to play for any Turkish-Cypriot club playing in the unofficial Cyprus Turkish Football Association league in the north of the island, even though it does not take part in European competition.
A tribute was paid to the “courage, vision and resolve” of both sides and Koutsokoumnis responded by confirming a common determination to proceed towards the implementation of the “provisional arrangement” signed in November.
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