ELAM calls for cancellation of Real Madrid football camp in Northern Cyprus

The camp, organised by Gençlik Gücü Academy, is planned to take place at the Acapulco resort near Kyrenia.

According to the academy, the event will include a friendly match involving young players participating in the Real Madrid Foundation’s football programme in Türkiye.

However, ELAM has described the planned event as “unacceptable” and called on Real Madrid’s headquarters in Spain to intervene and cancel it.

The party also urged the Greek Cypriot government to take action to prevent the camp from going ahead.

In a statement reported by Greek Cypriot media outlet Phileleftheros, ELAM argued that such sporting activities, whether intentionally or not, contributed to what it described as efforts to legitimise the Turkish presence in Northern Cyprus.

The party went further, declaring that no sporting events should take place on what it called “occupation territory stained with blood”.

The controversy follows the cancellation of a Barcelona-linked football camp previously planned for Northern Cyprus.

That event was called off following objections and interventions, including representations made by the Cyprus Football Association to its Spanish counterpart.

The Real Madrid Foundation operates a football training programme in Türkiye in cooperation with Be Free Football and Regnum Hotels.

There has been no confirmation that the November 14 camp will be cancelled.

The latest controversy once again highlights the political obstacles facing international sporting activities involving young Turkish Cypriot athletes.