Cameroonian footballer, key witness in forgery case, faces deportation

Local cameroonCrimefootballTop News Cameroonian footballer, key witness in forgery case, faces deportation Eluntu Relevant News Cameroonian footballer, key witness in forgery case, faces deportation 19 August 2026 Five delivery riders hurt in Paphos brawl over food order payment 19 August 2026 Fire outside Evrychou home damages three vehicles 19 August 2026 Fanis Makrides 19 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber A 31-year-old Cameroonian footballer who is a key prosecution witness in a serious forgery case is facing deportation over issues relating to his residence permit in Cyprus. Charles Eloundou, a midfielder who has played for Anorthosis, Nea Salamina and Ethnikos Achnas, was arrested in the past 24 hours because his Cyprus residence permit renewal remains pending. Eloundou had been playing in Cyprus until recently. The case is complicated: Eloundou has already agreed to join Cypriot club ASIL Lysi this season, and he is also a prosecution witness in a significant criminal case involving the football club “P.O. Achyronas Onisilos.” Eloundou is currently held at the “Limnes” Pre-Removal Detention Centre for Migrants. His case has been filed with Famagusta District Court, with a hearing scheduled for September 22, 2026. A police source confirmed to philenews that the player is being held over his residence status in Cyprus. According to an official police briefing given to the paper, his status as a prosecution witness will be taken into account when his case is examined. The Pancyprian Footballers’ Association (PASP) has been active on Eloundou’s case for several days, sending a letter requesting official information from prosecuting authorities and citing its institutional role representing and protecting footballers’ professional and labour rights in Cyprus. PASP executive president Spyros Neofytidis, speaking to philenews about the case, said: “There is a key aspect here.” He explained that Eloundou has already agreed terms with ASIL Lysi and that the renewal of his residence permit is a formality. Neofytidis said PASP’s actions led to a request for the permit’s reissue eight months ago, which has not yet been examined. He added that Eloundou is married to a French national. Neofytidis said the second serious aspect of the case concerns Eloundou’s role as a witness in a very serious case involving alleged repeated forgery against professional footballers. He said Eloundou is a key prosecution witness, and that justice, whether through acquittal or conviction, would not be served if he does not testify under oath in court. On February 13, 2025, a coordinated operation by the Intellectual Property and Illegal Betting Combating Bureau, under the police’s Cybercrime Subdivision, carried out search and arrest warrants against three people linked to “P.O. Achyronas Onisilos.” Two were senior administrative officials at the club, and one worked as a players’ agent. Allegations put before police suggested the administrative officials may have been involved in illegally arranging contracts. Reports published at the time said contracts submitted to the Cyprus Football Association did not match the actual agreements reached between the club and players. Police investigations at the time found that at least one contract may have been forged without the player’s knowledge. Police were investigating forgery, circulating a forged document, and conspiracy to commit a felony at the time. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Five delivery riders hurt in Paphos brawl over food order payment Fire outside Evrychou home damages three vehicles Fire breaks out at Deryneia barber shop Five-month-old baby dies in Limassol The unusual sales model behind Cyprus’s €3.2 billion gaming industry Konstantinos Konstantinou, Andreas Andreou: “Tocayo never stops evolving” The EU’s AI rulebook is here: what it means for Europeans Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.