This Europe: Poster-boy footballer may help break Cyprus deadlock

With talks on reunifying Cyprus deadlocked, twins from the Turkish-occupied north of the island have taken matters into their own hands by crossing the green line in search of professional football.

The Greek-Cypriot team AEK Larnaca were only too delighted to sign up the talented players, Sabri and Raif Selden. The club's chairman, Stavros Xeni, said: "This was a political move. We did this to send a message that we believe in a united Cyprus."

However, the defection of two highly gifted sportsmen has caused a storm in the Turkish community, where some newspapers branded the brothers "traitors".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the north of the island after a Greek-engineered coup. The division extends to all facets of life, including sport, with no Turkish-Cypriot teams in the republic's league and only Greek Cypriots in the national side.

Gloating has been the order of the day among Greek Cypriots since news of the defection broke. Mr Xeni bragged: "This move is a slap in the face for the illegal Turkish authority."

No one can dispute the fact that the footballing grass is far greener for Greek-Cypriot players, who can earn up to 1,000 times the wages available to their counterparts in the north.

More importantly for some, the professional Cypriot league is a gateway to the riches of international football through the national team and Uefa club competitions.

Moreover, Mr Xeni is convinced that Sabri, 22, could be the poster boy for a united Cyprus by becoming the first Turkish Cypriot in the national team.

"He's already international class and one coach compared him with David Beckham, so we think he could move straight into the Cyprus team once we have done the paperwork," said the Larnaca chairman.