FIFA hosts talks for united Cyprus team

September 25th, 2007 | by: WC Bob | View Comments

We’ve seen in the past that football is a sport that can both divide and unite people. In the case of Cyrpus, there is new hope that the beautiful game can help a divided people become united – at least around a football team.

FIFA recently hosted talks between football officials representing Greek and Turkish Cypriots. As it currently stands, the Cyprus national football team is represented only by players from the Greek side of the island. That precludes some of the best players on the island and has been a bone of contention for years.

There are more talks scheduled for later in October and according to the reports the various sides are pleased with the direction in which things are heading. I’m under no delusion that a united Cyprus football team will end a conflict that has been at loggerheads for a couple of decades, but the notion of players on both sides of the line playing side-by-side certainly won’t hurt. Nor will it hurt Cyprus in future European and World Cup competitions. There are some excellent Turkish Cypriot players.