The 2013–14 Cypriot First Division was the 75th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. It began on 31 August 2013 and ended on 31 May 2014.[4]APOEL were the defending champions.
The 17 May 2014 title deciding match between AEL Limassol and APOEL was abandoned (at 0–0) after 52 minutes, when a bomb thrown by AEL fans, hit and injured APOEL's player Kaká.[5] The match was replayed behind closed doors at a neutral stadium on 31 May 2014 and APOEL achieved to win their second consecutive league title after beating AEL Limassol by 1–0.[6] However, on 6 June 2014, the Cyprus Football Association’s (CFA) disciplinary committee – acting as an appeals board – unanimously cancelled on the CFA council’s decision to repeat the 17 May championship final, awarding the match to APOEL with a 0–3 score.[7]
Teams
Promotion and relegation (pre-season)
AEP Paphos and Ayia Napa were relegated at the end of the first stage of the 2012–13 season after finishing in the bottom two places of the table. They were joined by Olympiakos Nicosia, who finished at the bottom of the second-phase Group C.
^On 17 May 2013, Nea Salamina were deducted three points by CFA because they failed to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[41]
^On 17 May 2013, Enosis Neon Paralimni were deducted three points by CFA because they failed to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[41]
^On 17 May 2013, Alki Larnaca were deducted three points by CFA because they failed to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[41]
On 6 August 2013, Alki Larnaca were deducted another three points by CFA because they failed again to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[42]
On 8 November 2013, Alki Larnaca were deducted six points by CFA because they failed for the third time to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[43]
On 2 December 2013, Alki Larnaca were deducted two points by CFA because they failed to meet CFA's monthly financial criteria.[44]
On 8 January 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted nine points by CFA because they failed to pay the referees' salaries in three of their home matches (deducted three points for each match).[45]
On 15 January 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted three points by CFA because they failed again to pay the referees' salaries in two of their home matches.[46]
On 31 January 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted two points by CFA because they failed for the fourth time to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[47]
On 5 February 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted nine points by CFA because they failed again to pay the referees' salaries in three of their home matches (deducted three points for each match).[48]
On 6 March 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted two points by CFA because they failed for the fifth time to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[49]
On 9 April 2014, Alki Larnaca were deducted two points by CFA because they failed for the sixth time to meet the financial criteria of UEFA.[50]
^ abcSince cup winners APOEL qualified for the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League and the runners-up Ermis finished top-four, all of the Europa League spots revert into league positions.
Source: CFA Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes:
^CFA awarded APOEL a 3–0 win as a result of the injury of APOEL's player Kaká who was hit by firecrackers thrown by AEL fans. The match originally abandoned (at 0–0) after 52 minutes and replayed 15 days later, ending 1–0 to APOEL. The CFA's decision to award APOEL a 3–0 win, was taken six days after APOEL's 1–0 win in the rematch.[51]
^CFA awarded AEL a 3–0 win as a result of Ermis fielding the ineligible player Constantinos Samaras. The match originally ended 2–0 to AEL.[52]