“You have no friends, only enemies!” » Kyros Vassaras, speech in front of the Superliga referees
Article by David Marinescu – Published Thursday, February 19, 2026, 4:04 p.m. / Updated Thursday, February 19, 2026, 4:05 p.m.
The Romanian arbitration is sitting on a powder keg, especially after some scandalous decisions that the “whistleblowers” took on the field in the last stages. GSP.RO received more information from a meeting of the referees with their head, Kyros Vassaras, via email to the editorial office.
The statements below would have been made in an analysis of refereeing in Romanian football, a few days ago.
Before publishing the information, Gazeta Sporturilor tried to find out if the message is real. Several people in the phenomenon have confirmed the discussions that Kyros Vassaras would have had with the referees in the Superliga.
“You have no friends in arbitration, only enemies”
The person who sent the email is talking about “a very nervous and aggressive tone throughout the meeting” by CCA president Kyros Vassaras.
Kyros Vassaras / photo: FRF
It would have sent clear messages, such as “I'm only your friend” or “We're in the arena to fight, not at the museum.”
Moreover, the president would have sent them a clear message: “You can talk to me, but you don't have to tell anyone that you talked to me”, but also: “You have no friends in arbitration, you only have enemies”.
In addition, according to the information received, the referees “the idea was imposed on them that they should not have collegial or friendly relations neither with each other nor with the coaches”.
Istvan Kovacs, cornered by Kyros Vassaras
At the weekly dialogue that Kyros Vassaras organizes, Istvan Kovacs is late for the meeting.
He would have been criticized for the fact that “he entered 10 minutes after the start of the meeting and that he connected from the phone, the recommendation being to do it from the laptop”.
Also, he would have been denied his opinion when the discussions about the phases in the analyzed stage of the Super League began.
Kyros Vassaras allegedly criticized the referees and assistants that “they smile when they shake hands”, going by the idea that “you have no friends, only enemies”.
