Azerbaijan plane had ‘special permission’ to land at Larnaca

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight which landed at Larnaca airport on Tuesday carrying players and coaches from Azeri football club Zira FK had “special permission” to land, the airport said on Thursday.

The airport’s managing company Hermes Airports told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) the civil aviation department had issued the airline a special permit to land at Larnaca ahead of Zira FK’s Europa Conference League match against Cypriot club Omonia in Nicosia on Thursday.

A total of 43 people made the trip from Azerbaijan to Cyprus ahead of the match.

The flight’s arrival caused furore among Turkish Cypriot social media users, with many ridiculing the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s belief that Azerbaijan will recognise the ‘TRNC’.

They also pointed out the fact that despite good relations between the Azeri and Turkish Cypriot leaderships, it is Greek Cypriot sports teams which are treated as equals by Azerbaijan and Turkey in the sphere of international competition.

Omonia do have one Turkish Cypriot player on their books, Tahsin Ozler, though he will not feature against Zira FK as he has been sent on a season-long loan to Second Division side MEAP Nisou.