Football rights row carries on

AEL and LTV continued their war of words yesterday regarding a broadcasting agreement that the Limassol club wants to terminate.

Speaking to Sigma TV, executive director of LTV Akis Avraamides claimed that the board of AEL was directly responsible for Monday’s demonstration and went on to say that the situation that occurred was unacceptable and that lives could have been lost.

On Monday night AEL fans blockaded the Tsirion stadium in Limassol to prevent an LTV crew from filming the match. After the crew got inside talks between the two sides failed to reach an agreement and the camera crew left.

Avraamides reiterated LTV’s claim that the courts have already upheld the contract made and that any other contract AEL makes would be illegal. Plus TV ended up showing the Monday night game fuelling rumours that AEL has already made a new agreement with the channel.

AEL board member Andreas Giapas refuted LTV’s claim by saying that that no decision has been made by the courts and the agreement was now void.

Chairman of AEL, Andreas Sophocleous, claimed that the contract was made under duress and that LTV took advantage of AEL’s then dire financial situation. He stated that talks have been ongoing with LTV for close to two years now and that LTV has already rejected an €800,000 offer to terminate the contract.

Meanwhile things are not looking better for AEL on the pitch either as after a disappointing start to the season coach Dusan Uhrin was last night relieved of his duties.

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