Cyprus police told thugs threatened player

The president of Cyprian football club Olympiakos Nicosia has rejected a player’s allegation that thugs assaulted and threatened to kill him if he didn’t sign away thousands of euros owed to him in back pay.

Venezuelan defender Cesar Alberto Castro Perez has filed a formal complaint to police alleging that two men forced him at gunpoint at his Nicosia home at the weekend to sign documents terminating his contract with the club.

Police said doctors who examined the player found bruises to his head and neck.

Olympiakos Nicosia president Petros Savva said on Wednesday that it’s a “shame” the struggling club’s reputation has been smeared in such a way.

Savva said Perez was owed three months’ pay of about 25,000 euros ($A31,000), but vehemently denied his club had anything to do with the incident.

Police say they’re investigating.

The Cyprus Football Association says it has appointed its own investigator to look into the matter.

The 28-year-old player, who joined the club last July, has since left the island.

Olympiakos is in 11th place out of 14 teams in the first division.

Cyprus Football Players’ Association chief Spyros Neofytides denounced the alleged attack and urged authorities to find those responsible.

“We’re monitoring what’s going on very closely and we won’t hesitate to blow the whistle on anyone who tries to threaten an association member,” Neofytides said.

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