Barcelona's Northern Cyprus Football Camp Postponed Amid Greek Cypriot Pressure

A football camp organized by FC Barcelona's academy in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been postponed following diplomatic pressure exerted by the Greek Cypriot administration. The event, initially slated to take place at Near East University facilities in Nicosia, had its details removed from the club's official website.

The camp was scheduled for two sessions in September 2026. However, the location previously listed as "Lefkosa, Northern Cyprus" is no longer accessible on the club's site, and the event has been removed from Barcelona's interactive map. This withdrawal came after the Greek Cypriot Football Federation lodged a complaint with the Spanish Football Federation, urging the cancellation of the event.

Reports in the Greek Cypriot press indicate that Barcelona, under diplomatic pressure, decided to review the plans for the sports complex and announced the postponement of the project without setting a new date. The far-right ELAM party in Greek Cyprus, which had campaigned for the camp's cancellation, welcomed the decision, stating they had achieved their goal.

In response to the situation, TRNC President Tufan Erhürman had previously criticized the attempts to block the camp. He stated that while some might label the cancellation of a children's football event as a "diplomatic victory," from a humanitarian perspective, it represents a "debacle for all people and humanity."

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You can call the cancellation of the festival, the attempt to prevent children from playing football, a 'diplomatic victory,' but from a humanitarian perspective, it is clear enough for me that this is a debacle for all people and humanity.