In Cyprus, the president of a football club was shot

In Limassol on the morning of October 17, unknown assailants shot 49-year-old businessman and president of the «Karmiotissa» football club, Stavros Demosthenous, reports Cyprus-mail.com. The man died on the way to the hospital, and the police are considering the incident as a carefully planned murder.

Stavros Demosthenous

According to Cypriot media, the shot was fired around 9:30 a. m. when Demosthenous was in the passenger seat of a car driven by his 18-year-old son. The attack occurred just half a kilometer from the businessman’s home. «Preliminary information indicates that the shot was fired from a car moving ahead of their vehicle,» said police spokeswoman Kyriaki Lambrianidou.

After the shot, Demosthenous' son tried to get his father to the hospital but collided with another vehicle on the way. The young man managed to stop a random car and ask the driver for help. However, doctors at Limassol Hospital only confirmed the businessman’s death.

According to the police, the attackers fled the scene in a white van, which was later found burned nearby. The vehicle had been reported stolen since September 4. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to determine the van’s route and the shooters' identities.

«This is a serious and well-organized crime. We are conducting a large-scale investigation, gathering testimonies, and checking all possible versions. No arrests have been made so far,» said Lambrianidou. She added that the police «are determined to find and bring those responsible to justice» and urged citizens to share any information. Demosthenous' son was not physically harmed but is in a state of severe shock.

The murder caused a significant reaction in Cyprus. A kilometer-long traffic jam formed at the scene — traffic on the highway was restored only at two o’clock in the afternoon.

Stavros Demosthenous was well-known in football circles. Besides «Karmiotissa,» he previously headed the «Aris» club (Limassol) and was considered a potential candidate for the head of the Cyprus Football Association. He also owned the Democars company, which sells premium cars.

The «Karmiotissa» match against «Asil Lysi,» scheduled for Friday, was postponed.