A 44-year-old football coach and club official pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse charges before Limassol Criminal Court today, changing his plea at the last moment as the prosecution was preparing to present a minor victim’s testimony via video link to prevent visual contact with the defendant.
The charges include sexual abuse of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and accessing child sexual abuse material.
With the guilty plea entered, the facts of the case were presented to the court. The defence lawyer is today making submissions in mitigation in closed proceedings.
According to the case facts, the defendant used Instagram and other messaging applications to solicit images and videos of a sexual nature from minor footballers, offering money in exchange. Two minors are alleged to be victims. In one instance, he allegedly proposed meeting one of the minors at a Limassol hotel for a sexual act in exchange for €150. The offences were committed in June 2025.
How the case came to light
The case emerged when parents of other minor footballers alerted the parents of a 16-year-old, who immediately filed a complaint with the authorities.
In mid-June 2025, the 16-year-old reported that he played for a team where the 44-year-old was a club official who at times performed coaching duties. According to his statement, contact began in late 2024 via social media, initially concerning training matters, but quickly turned sexual in nature.
The defendant allegedly sent the minor a photo and asked if he engaged in self-gratification. The minor felt uncomfortable and told teammates, one of whom admitted to having received similar messages.
In January 2025, the 16-year-old was added to a group chat by an unknown user, whom he quickly identified as the defendant. The defendant continued sending the minor videos and photographs.
A second minor, according to the 16-year-old’s account, was allegedly offered €50 and a sexual aid in exchange for sending nude photographs, an offer he allegedly accepted.
The 16-year-old also stated that, under pressure, he sent photographs, and that the defendant sent him nude images and requested videos of sexual acts.
