NICOSIA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Cyprus Football Association on Thursday reserved judgement on a health falsification case against the country's top-flight club Anorthosis FC' Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
The case emerged after Apollon FC lodged an appeal against the validity of its first division game with Anorthosis FC on February 2, claiming that the health certificate of Uzoho was probably forged.
Uzoho, 20, arrived in Cyprus on February 1 on a six-month loan from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.
On the very next day, he defended the goalposts of Anorthosis, making some spectacular saves which helped his new team beat Apollon 1-0 on road.
However, Apollon filed a complaint with the Cyprus Football Association, pointing out that it was impossible to issue a health certificate to Uzoho in such a short time.
Apollon also lodged a complaint with the police, who started a criminal investigation into the case in which the Cyprus Sports Organization (KOA) issued the certificate to Uzoho.
Police arrested three persons in connection with the case: Anorthosis FC's vice president Kyriakos Yiangou, who is also a doctor suspected of signing the documents filed with KOA regarding Uzoho's health; A 36-year-old woman who works for KOA and her husband.
However, all the three were released later on.
Uzoho reportedly told the police that he was on a plane flying to Cyprus until after 4 p.m. on Friday, February 1, when he was supposed to be undergoing health examinations.
The offices of KOA had closed at 2:30 p.m. on Friday for the weekend.
After Uzoho's statement, KOA annulled his health certificate.
If the judge of the Cyprus Football Association rules in favor of Apollon, probably on Friday, the first division score table will be changed in more than one way.
Apollon will get three points and jump from third to second place in the standings.
Anorthosis will lose at least three points of the match against Apollon and risk six more points being docked for using an ineligible player. In such a case, Anorthosis have to fight against relegation as the season is nearing end.
Other teams, at least one or two, will benefit from the case, depending on how many points will be taken away from Antorthosis.
