{{short description|Cypriot retired football goalkeeper|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Andreas Charitou | image = EK kwalificatie interland Nederland tegen Cyprus 8-0 wedstrijd uur gestaakt na , Bestanddeelnr 934-1163.jpg | fullname = Andreas Charitou | height = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|12|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = Lythrodontas, Nicosia | position = Goalkeeper | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Elia Lythrodonta | years1 = 1979–1981 | clubs1 = Adonis Idaliou | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1981–1999 | clubs2 = Omonia | caps2 = 369<ref>{{ cite web | script-title=el:ΧΑΡΙΤΟΥ ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ | url=https://www.omonoiafc.com.cy/top-players/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%AD%CE%B1%CF%82-%CF%87%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AF%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85/ | publisher= AC Omonia | accessdate=7 February 2019 | language=Greek | date= 11 September 2018 }}</ref> | goals2 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1984–1991 | nationalteam1 = Cyprus | nationalcaps1 = 16 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2000–2007 | managerclubs1 = Omonia (goalkeeping coach) | pcupdate = | ntupdate = }}
'''Andreas Charitou''' ({{langx|el|Ανδρέας Χαρίτου}}, born 29 December 1961) is a Cypriot retired football goalkeeper who played the majority of his career for Omonia Nicosia.
==International career== Charitou made his debut for Cyprus in a September 1984 friendly match against Greece and earned a total of 15 caps. His final international was a November 1991 Euro Championship qualifier against the Soviet Union.<ref>[http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=7929 Intl career stats] - EU-Football</ref>
===De Kuip bomb incident=== In a Euro 1988 qualifier on 28 October 1987, in Rotterdam,<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/1343--netherlands-vs-cyprus/ Report] - UEFA</ref> a homemade bomb made of fireworks in a tennisball<ref>[http://www.bndestem.nl/sport/een-bomgooier-en-vele-andere-dwazen-1.619276 Een bomgooier en vele andere dwazen] - BN De Stem {{in lang|nl}}</ref> exploded close to Charitou in the early stages of the game.<ref>[https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/wvttk/opnieuw-in-beeld-vuurwerkbom-hindert-nederlands.2259369.lynkx Opnieuw in beeld: Vuurwerkbom hindert Nederlands elftal] - Nederlands Dagblad {{in lang|nl}}</ref> He was subsequently stretchered off and replaced, and the Cypriot players left the field in protest and refused to continue playing.
After much pressure from the Dutch team, Luxembourg referee Roger Philippi decided the game could continue. The match ended 8–0 with John Bosman establishing a Netherlands national team record of five goals in one game, but UEFA decided that the match was invalid and Cyprus were awarded a 0–3 victory instead, giving Greece the opportunity to qualify; the Dutch successfully appealed, with Dr. Greep stating that Charitou was not actually injured, which resulted in a replay in Amsterdam. Holland duly qualified and won the 1988 Euro Championships.<ref>[http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1300072/2008/05/31/rsquo-Bommengooier-van-Oss-rsquo-Ik-wilde-gewoon-een-harde-knal.dhtml ’Bommengooier van Oss’: Ik wilde gewoon een harde knal] - Trouw {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
==Honours==
===Club=== * '''AC Omonia''' ** Cypriot Championship (7): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1992–93 ** Cypriot Cup (5): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1993–94 **Stylianakis Shield (7): 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991
===Individual=== * CFA Moral Footballer of the Year (1): 1987 * 1998 Fair Play Ambassador of Cyprus Sports Organization
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{NFT player|pid=40745}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charitou, Andreas}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Cypriot men's footballers Category:Cyprus men's international footballers Category:Cypriot First Division players Category:Cypriot Second Division players Category:AC Omonia players