Newsroom
FC Barcelona is planning to hold a youth football camp in the occupied north of Cyprus this September, and the announcement has not gone down well in the Republic.
The camp appears on the official Barça Academy website, so this is not simply a local football school using Barcelona’s name or badge.
It is advertised as the “Lefkosa Camp” and will take place at Near East University from Sept. 7-11 and again from Sept. 16-20. The location is listed as “Lefkosa, Northern Cyprus.”
And that is where the problem begins.
The breakaway entity in the north is recognized only by Turkey. For the Republic of Cyprus and the international community, “Northern Cyprus” is not a recognized country. It is part of the Republic that has remained under Turkish occupation since 1974.
This would be controversial enough if it involved a small foreign organization. But Barcelona is anything but small.
It is one of the most famous football clubs in the world, with millions of supporters and a global brand built around its motto, “Més que un club”—“More than a club.”
Many Cypriots grew up watching Barcelona. They wore the shirts, followed the team, and celebrated the years of Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta. That is why seeing the club advertise an official camp in the occupied areas and use the term “Northern Cyprus" has struck a nerve.
Former transport minister Yiannis Karousos, a longtime Barcelona supporter, said the decision had ended his relationship with the club.
“From today, for me, that is over,” he wrote on social media.
Karousos said the issue was not simply about geography, politics, or football.
“It is our homeland. It is our homes that remain under occupation. It is our refugees. It is Famagusta, still waiting after 52 years,” he wrote.
He also turned Barcelona’s famous motto back on the club.
“‘Més que un club’ is not a slogan. It is a responsibility.”
ELAM has also reacted, calling on the Spanish government to intervene and asking the Cyprus Foreign Ministry to take steps to stop the camp.
The Cyprus Football Association is reportedly looking into the event and whether it raises any issues under FIFA or UEFA rules.
On the other side of the divide, Turkish Cypriot officials have accused Greek Cypriots of trying to isolate their community and block its involvement in international sport and culture.
A coordinator for the camp has described it as a nonpolitical sporting event open to everyone. He said “Lefkosa” was used because it is the Turkish name for Nicosia.
But the strongest criticism is not about children being given the chance to play football. It is about Barcelona holding an official event in occupied territory and using wording that appears to treat the breakaway entity as a recognized country.
As of Tuesday evening, the camp was still listed on Barcelona’s website, and the club had not publicly responded to the reaction from Cyprus.
