Karmiotissa FC chairman fatally shot in Limassol, Cyprus

A well-known Limassol businessman was shot dead on Friday (October 17) morning in a brazen attack that left police investigating a possible coordinated ambush.

Stavros Demosthenous, 49, chairman of second-division football club Karmiotissa FC and former head of top-tier Aris Limassol FC, was reportedly shot near his home in Ayios Athanasios shortly before 10 a.m. while driving, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

According to police, a van cut off his car before a motorcyclist opened fire. A van later found burning in the Yermasoyia area may be linked to the attack. Demosthenous’s son attempted to rush him to hospital but crashed along the motorway, eventually flagging down another vehicle to continue to Limassol General Hospital, where Demosthenous was pronounced dead.

The incident forced authorities to close a major stretch of the motorway from the Ayia Fylaxi to Troodos roundabouts, causing heavy traffic until it reopened after 2 p.m.

Demosthenous was a familiar figure in Cypriot football circles and had recently been mentioned as a potential candidate for the presidency of the Cyprus Football Association following Giorgos Koumas’ resignation, though he ultimately chose not to run.

Outside sports, Demosthenous ran Democars, a Limassol-based luxury car dealership offering brands such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce.

Friday’s scheduled match between Karmiotissa and Asil Lysi has been postponed in light of the tragedy. Police investigations into the shooting are ongoing.

By Aghakazim Guliyev