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A far-right Greek Cypriot political party has called for the cancellation of a youth football event organized with the Real Madrid Foundation in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), urging authorities to step in and prevent the gathering scheduled for Nov. 14.
The National Popular Front (ELAM), which operates in the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus, has called on Real Madrid's management in Spain to cancel the event in Kyrenia, a coastal city in Turkish Cyprus.
According to Greek Cypriot media, the party has also urged the Greek Cypriot government to take up the issue with Spain and the European Union in an effort to stop the event from going ahead.
The event, announced by the Real Madrid Foundation and organized by Genclik Gucu Academy, is scheduled to take place at the Acapulco facilities in Kyrenia.
Young footballers from Turkish Cyprus are expected to face players enrolled in the Real Madrid Foundation Football Program Türkiye in a friendly match.
According to Real Madrid, the foundation's football training program in Türkiye operates in cooperation with Be Free Football and Regnum Hotels.
However, ELAM has objected to the gathering, arguing that holding such an event in Turkish Cyprus would contribute to what it describes as efforts to legitimize the island's division.
In a statement, the party described the planned event as unacceptable and confirmed that it had contacted the Greek Cypriot government to seek intervention.
The controversy follows a similar incident involving Spanish football club Barcelona, whose planned youth football camp in Turkish Cyprus was canceled following objections from Greek Cypriot organizations.
The earlier cancellation came after interventions that included the Cyprus Football Association contacting the Spanish football federation.
ELAM, which also opposed the Barcelona event, is now pushing for similar action against the Real Madrid Foundation's planned gathering.
The event remains scheduled for Nov. 14, according to the announcements cited by Greek Cypriot media.
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