NICOSIA, Feb. 19-- Cyprus's football championship was thrown into turmoil just one soccer weekend before the end of the regular season after an overnight decision by the Cyprus Football Federation judge who changed the result of a game between two first division teams. The judge upheld a recourse by Apollon FC of Limassol against the eligibility of the newly signed goalkeeper of Anorthosis FC of Famagusta in a game between the two sides on February 2. As a result, Anorthosis, which had won an away game 1-0, was depived of three points, which were awarded to the home team, and additionally lost another six points for breaking the rule against using a non-eligible player. After the decision, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) moved Apollon onto the top of the standings, displacing by one point the leading team, Apoel of Nicosia, and dropped Anorthosis from fifth place with 34 points in the top elite group of six teams to seventh place with 25 points in the relegation group. Anorhtosis risks losing a place in the top-six teams privileged group which can lead to either one of two money-earning European football championships, as its place was taken by another team which moved up from the bottom group. It now has to win the last game of the regular season at the weekend to return to the top group. Otherwise, it will play two rounds of five games each with teams fighting against relegation to the second soccer division. |