The Cyprus National Betting Authority’s president, Ioanna Fiakkou, is currently the subject of a criminal inquiry after she declined to respond to inquiries from MPs at a House session. Fiakkou had been called before the Cyprus House Ethics Committee to discuss issues with football corruption, but she refused to offer the details that were needed.
Allegations of Cover-Up and Concealment
Former Cyprus Sports Ethics Committee board member and attorney Charis Savvides charged Fiakkou with concealing material facts pertaining to shady betting activity in 2021. Savvides had been looking into claims of corruption brought forth by Stavros Papastavrou, an investor in Nicosia team Omonia FC, which implicated powerful figures inside the football association. Savvides served as the head of the Sports Ethics Committee at the time.
Savvides claimed that he had asked Fiakkou’s assistance in supplying crucial information regarding a particular betting business operating on the island. Fiakkou, however, cited privacy rules as justification for her unwillingness to comply.
Tensions and Legal Implications
The chair of the House Ethics Committee, AKEL MP Irene Charalambides, urged Fiakkou to respond to the questions during the hearing and stressed the negative effects of concealment, emphasizing that it is a crime. Fiakkou’s defiance infuriated Charalambides, who insisted that she respect the House by responding to the inquiry.
In response, Fiakkou asserted that the Legal Service’s involvement was necessary and that she had a duty to inform the authorities who were conducting the investigation. A person under investigation has the right to remain silent, according to the Legal Service spokeswoman, because any statements they make to the House Committee could be used against them in court.
This information suggested that Fiakkou is currently being looked into in relation to allegations of match-fixing. Fiakkou received criticism from Charalambides for withholding this information from the MPs throughout the session.
Allegations of a Cover-Up and Denial
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) had sent an email with red notices for 16 games that were thought to have been manipulated, Savvides had previously briefed MPs during a session. He claimed that a UEFA official and the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) had planned a cover-up.
Furthermore, Savvides alleged that the CFA had failed to take the necessary steps to look into the UEFA warnings on potential match-fixing instances. He even denied receiving any red alerts.
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